Updated 30 March GLOBEFORM'S DUBAI WORLD CUP DAY SPECIAL 2018 Dubai World Cup favourite West Coast landing the Travers Stakes at Saratoga, a race last year's World Cup winner Arrogate also won as a three-year-old. Photo: Coglianese Saturday, 31 March 2018
Race 1 GLOBEFORM RATINGS THE GODOLPHIN MILE (G2) 1600 m / 8 furlongs dirt / Meydan / 31 March 2018 Runners presented with best Globeform ratings, trainers / riders and GF ratings achieved last three starts (left to right). Globeform ratings are expressed in pounds. 1 length = 2lbs over this distance. 119 115p 115 111p 114? 112 112 112? 112??? 106 102 99 HEAVY METAL ECONOMIC MODEL KIMBEAR ROSA IMPERIAL mare *** SECOND SUMMER * SECRET AMBITION MUSAWAAT RAVEN'S CORNER SPECIAL FIGHTER ** ADIRATO AKITO CRESCENT MUNTAZAH SHAMAL NIBRAS CAPEZZANO S Jadhav C Brown D Watson A Fabre D Watson S Seemar F Nass S Seemar M Al Muhairi N Sugai H Shimizu D Watson D Watson S Jadhav R Moore J Rosario P Dobbs M Barzalona S Hitchcott P Cosgrave A de Vries R Mullen F Jara C-P Lemaire Y Take J Crowley D O'Neill M Smith 119 109 119 98 108+ 115p 110 100 115 111p -? - 100+ 0 0 0 83 108 112 103 105 112 0 112? 0 0 0 0?-?-??-?-? 0 90 106 95 102 90 90 95 99 * Second Summer performed to GF 114 in 2017 but has been way below that level in recent starts. ** Special Fighter performed to GF 112 in 2016 but has been way below that level in recent starts. *** Rosa Imperial: 2kg (4.4lbs) sex weight allowance add 4.4 to GF rating for comparison with males. 2017 SECOND SUMMER / Globeform 114 GLOBEFORM ANALYSIS The Dubai World Cup day opener lost a potentially heavy favourite when Sharp Azteca dropped out and the race now looks more open. It's also a contest where plenty of speed is signed on, including Heavy Metal, and the early pace can become a crucial factor. Heavy Metal, Secret Ambition and Raven's Corner are all likely to gun for the lead, while Special Fighter and possibly Adirato are horses who will press the pace. It's easy to imagine a horse coming from off the pace to win. One horse in particular fits the bill, Chad Brown's first Meydan runner Economic Model. Let's look at the principal contenders in ratings order. HEAVY METAL is a serious contender with solid course and distance form. He may be eight years old now, and he may be closing in on his 60 th start, but he has been as good as ever this winter. Interestingly, he is one of quite a few horses to have improved considerably as older horses in Dubai, after having been trained by Mark Johnston in England as a young horse. It's a pattern well worth bearing in mind. He will be running for a new trainer here, as his previous handler, Salem bin Ghadayer, was recently given a 12-month suspension (3 March 2018 to 3 March 2019) as one of his other horses was found to have prohibited substances in its system. Heavy Metal was one of the top dirt milers in Dubai last season and he holds the same position this season, having won the Dubai Creek Mile in December (easily by 4 ½ lengths from Wild Dude), as a prep for the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 in January, where he was very popular in the betting and controlled affairs from start to finish for another 4 1/2-length win, this time over dual Group 1 winner Thunder Snow. The two met again in the second round of the series, when the distance was upped from a mile to 9.5 furlongs. Stamina won the day, as a fitter Thunder Snow came out best, a neck in front of North America who was 4 lengths in front of Heavy Metal. Running further than a mile did not suit Heavy Metal. He was dropped back down to his favourite trip nine days later, and bounced right back to win the Firebreak Stakes by almost >>>
>>> ten lengths from Cosmo Charlie. Softer opposition, yes, but he showed the same enthusiasm, going to the lead and taking his rivals right out of their comfort zones well before the race was over. Then came another reverse, on Meydan's 'Super Saturday', when Heavy Metal ran too hard a bit too soon and tired in the closing stages of the Buj Nahaar. Kimbear, Secret Ambition and Musawaat all passed him, but he was beaten only 1 ¾ lengths. Losing a prep is not necessarily a bad thing, but getting a hard race is. That said. He had a hard race also when beaten in the Al Maktoum Challenge II, only to come right back for a win just over a week later. He is a tough horse. He is a most efficient front-runner, and - given a decent draw he has a good chance of going much better than he did in the Godolphin Mile twelve months ago, when he tired badly in mid-stretch and finished eighth. He seems to be the sort who goes considerably better when allowed a loose lead, than when he has pace pressure. As Mikael Barzalona is contracted to ride Rosa Imperial, Heavy Metal gets Ryan Moore in the saddle this time not a bad replacement! ROSA IMPERIAL is a fascinating runner. This five-year-old daughter of Pivotal, trained by Andre Fabre, has had just five career starts to date, winning three times, and her best Globeform rating suggests that she in with a chance her if she takes to the dirt, and if she stays the distance. That's two big 'ifs' but one good rule in horseracing betting is; when a top trainer does something that seems strange back the horse. Fabre certainly is a top trainer and he is one of the few handlers we can trust not to make silly mistakes from time to time. Rosa Imperial, who is owned by Godolphin, has thus far raced only over sprint distances, but she is a sister to Rosental, who won a Listed event over 2000 metres on very soft ground at Saint-Cloud and was also successful on Polytrack the surface Rosa Imperial ran on when preparing for her trip to Meydan earlier this month. She was second that day, going down by ¾ length to City Light over 1300 metres (6.5 furlongs) at Chantilly. It was her first run back after a seven-month break and Rosa Imperial was not given a hard race. Her best form last year came in the Prix de Ris-Orangis over 1200 metres at Maisons-Laffitte (straight course) last June, a race she won by a length from Son Cesio (previous winner of the event), with Attendu ¾ length further adrift in third place. Rosa Imperial travelled strongly through the first 800 metres, just off the pace, came with a good kick to lead 200 metres from the line, and won quite snugly. Son Cesio advertised the form by running second in the Prix du Cercle at Deauville next time out and winning the Goldene-Peitsche at Baden-Baden thereafter. Attendu, who is now at stud, also did well on his two subsequent outings; taking third behind high class milers Taareef and Al Wukair in the Prix Messidor at Maisons-Laffitte and winning the Prix Quincey at Deauville. Rosa Imperial was stepped up to G1 company five weeks after her win in the Ris-Orangis, but she failed to fire in the Prix Maurice de Gheest (9 th of 13 behind Brando). That run triggered a lengthy break to set her up for 2018, when this mare could become quite an interesting player. Interestingly, Fabre had also entered her for a G1 over 1600 metres last year so this plan to try her over the trip is nothing new. Rosa Imperial is drawn in stall 13, which may prove tricky, but most likely she will be dropped in and held up, so it may not prove too much of a negative. ECONOMIC MODEL could be the one who gets the best setup and he is the selection. Trained by Chad Brown, who has never had a runner in Dubai, he looks an interesting horse for the top mile races this year. Various problems apparently none of them serious hindered his 2017 campaign, and he raced just four times last season. His best effort came on his last run of the term, when he stayed on strongly to win a good mile allowance heat at Belmont Park in October (beating Backsideofthemoon and Vulcan's Forge with authority). Economic Model, like West Coast a son of Flatter, looked like he would appreciate further that day and if that proves to be correct, well then he will be a big player in the Godolphin Mile. He performed to Globeform 108+ at Belmont, having produced GF 113p when second to champion sprinter Drefong in the King's Bishop over 7 furlongs at Saratoga as a three-year-old. Economic Model made his seasonal debut in the Hal's Hope Stakes over a mile at Gulfstram Park in February, and he improved his form straight off the bench. Up against him was last year's Wood Memorial winner Irish War Cry, also back after a break, and the race developed into a battle between these two a battle Economic won by 1 ¾ lengths. He drew off through the last furlong, while not all that hard ridden, and was a solid winner returning Globeform 115p in the process. Economic Model was racing with great zest in fourth place down the back stretch, advanced smoothly around the turn to take over coming into the straight, then repelled the favourite Irish War Cry (who headed him for a few strides in midstretch), for a fine win. There could be more to come from this five-year-old and he has a good chance at Meydan. >>>
KIMBEAR, an ex-american trained by Doug Watson (who has the numbers in this race), is coming off his career best, a win in the Burj Nahaar over this course and distance on March 10, when he came through well after a hard race against Heavy Metal. The latter seemed to have shrugged him off when taking the lead at the top of the lane but, while Heavy Metal tired, Kimbear rallied, and he ran on gamely to win the race by 1 ¼ lengths from Secret Ambition, with Musawaat third and Heavy Metal fourth. This was Kimbear's second win at Meydan. He was a 5-length winner of a handicap first time out here in January, and runner-up in two handicaps the following month (behind Boynton and Raven's Corner). A repeat of his Burj Nahaar form would make him a contender in the Godolphin Mile. His wide post is a worry though, as it may be hard to go forward from stall 12 without significant ground loss. RAVEN'S CORNER is the 'dark horse' in the pack. Previously trained by John Gosden in England, this son of Ravane's Pass ran by far his best race when beating Kimbear by 7 lengths in a 7-furlong handicap. He was well below such form both on his preceding and subsequent start, however, and is clearly inconsistent. What's interesting about this runner is that he is likely to show serious early speed. Which brings me back to the likely pace scenario. A strong pace, followed by a meltdown, is quite likely. It will suit Economic Model and possibly also Rosa Imperial. MUSAWAAT and SECERT AMBITION are locally trained contenders who may roll past tired speed horses in he home straight and grab a slice of the pot. GLOBEFORM SELECTIONS A: 8 ECONOMIC MODEL, 9 HEAVY METAL B: 12 KIMBEAR, 13 ROSA IMPERIAL C: 4 MUSAWAAT, 10 SECRET AMBITION Economic Model winning the Hals' Hope Stakes. Photo: Leslie Martin / Coglianese Photos
Race 3 GLOBEFORM RATINGS DUBAI GOLD CUP (G1) 3200 m / 2 miles turf / Meydan / 31 March 2018 Runners presented with best Globeform ratings, trainers / riders and GF ratings achieved last three starts (left to right). Globeform ratings are expressed in pounds. 1 length = 1lb over this distance. 120 119 118 117 116 115p 113 110 109 109 108 106 105 105 103 103 VAZIRABAD FRONTIERSMAN BIG ORANGE RARE RHYTHM TORCEDOR DAL HARRAILD SHEIKHZAYEDROAD * RED GALILEO RUN TIME NATURAL SCENERY GOLD STAR AL SAHEM LOS BARBADOS PRINCE OF ARRAN PARVIZ JANCZOON A de Royar-Dupre C Appleby M Bell C Appleby J Harrington W Haggas D Simcock S bin Suroor M Maker S bin Suroor S bin Suroor M de Kock F Nass C Fellowes W Hickst A R Al Rayhi 2017 C Soumillon J Doye F Dettori W Buick C O'Donoghue R Moore M Harley G Mosse J Rosario P Cosgrave J Crowley A Delpech A de Vries O Murphy M Lerner S de Sousa 108 116 115+ 100 110 116 118 115 0 000 000 117 109 107 116 110 108 115p 112 100 103+ 96 103 101 107 109 0 103 100 98 103 104 108 92 102 106 97 104 105 104 105 85? - 103 103 98 0 103 VAZIRABAD / Globeform 120 * Sheikhzayedroad performed to Globeform 117 in 2016 GLOBEFORM ANALYSIS VAZIRABAD won this event last year, beating Godolphin's filly Beautiful Romance who had beaten him when they prepared for the big day with a run in the 14-furlong Nad Al Sheba Trophy in February. History might well be repeated, as Vazirabad made his comeback in the Nad Al Sheba this year too, and again finished second best to a Godolphin runner, this time by the name of RARE RHYTHM. He got first run on Vazirabad who came from a long way back and ran on gamely to beat him by 1 ¾ lengths. Soumillon eased the runner-up close home, however, and using a length as the margin makes sense for handicapping purposes. Rare Rhythm, who was also having his first start of the season, won a valuable handicap at Royal Ascot (12 furlongs) and the John Smith's Cup (14 furlongs), is of course a strong contender but this step up to 2 miles will be more to Vazirabad's liking and he has every chance of turning the tables. Rare Rhythm did seem a touch fitter in the Nad Al Sheba. The Nad Al Sheba form looks strong. The third placed SHEIKHZAYEDROAD, who was beaten 1 ½ lengths into third in last year's Dubai Gold Cup, was beaten as much as 9 ½ lengths. He is also likely to move forward off of that run but it's hard to see him winning. He has run to GF 117 in the past though that form is going back some time, and his best run over the last twelve months is his third in this event last year, when he returned GF 113.
FRONTIERSMAN has been switched to this staying contest from the Sheema Classic, and he is a fascinating contender stretching out in distance. His runner-up effort in the City of Gold three weeks ago, behind Sheema bound Hawkbill, confirmed his well being and remember what calibre of horses he has been brushing shoulders with in Europe. If he stays, well then he's a threat to all. He ran to Globeform 119 when second to the hot favourite Highland Reel in the Coronation Cup over 12 furlongs at Epsom Downs lst June, and was subsequently second to Hawkbill in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket, run over the same distance. Frontiersman looks to big in the betting (offered at 10-1 and 12-1) and he is definitely worth an each-way bet. BIG ORANGE managed to beat the classy favourite Order Of St. George in the Ascot Gold Cup over 2 ½ miles last June. He may have been a bit fortunate, winning the race by just a nose, but Big Orange deserved the win. He is one of the best stayers in Europe. Prior to his win at Ascot, he ran out an easy 5-length winner of the 2-mile Henry II Stakes at Sandown Park (a stiff course with emphasis on stamina), and in August he was runner-up to the progressive three-year-old Stradivarius in the Goodwood Cup, also staged over 2 miles. A near twelve-week break followed, before he offered a tame season finale in the British Champions Long Distance Cup on soft ground (finished 11 th, more than fifty lengths behind Order Of St. George). Big Orage was taken out of the Prix du Cadran on 'Arc' day, because of the soft ground and he was totally unsuited by conditions on British Champions day. He is a tough, game and consistent stayer, at his best on good to firm ground, and he finished fourth in this event last year, beaten 2 lengths by Vazirabad. TORCEDOR is coming over from Ireland and is a stayer open to further improvement this season. He was well behind Big Orange when fifth in the Gold Cup at Ascot last June but ran much better on soft ground in the British Champions Stayer Stakes, beaten only half a length by Order Of St George, who is in the same class as Vazirabad. DAL HARRAILD - another contender with improvement likely in 2018 should not be overlooked. Representing the in-form Newmarket trainer William Haggas, he strolled home by 10 lengths from Curbyourenthusiasm over 2 miles at Chelmsford (all-weather track) three weeks before DWC night, and note that this gelding managed sixth, beaten just 4 lengths by Sheema contender Idaho, in the 12-furlong Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot last summer. He led early that day and he made all the running when winning at Chelmsford, where he was sent off a warm 8/15 favourite. GLOBEFORM SELECTIONS A: 5 VAZIRABAD B: 10 FRONTIERSMAN, 12 BIG ORANGE, 14 RARE RHYTHM C: 1 DAL HARRAILD, 15 TORCEDOR
Race 4 GLOBEFORM RATINGS THE UAE DERBY (G2) 1900 m / 9.5 furlongs dirt / Meydan / 31 March 2018 Runners presented with best Globeform ratings, trainers / riders and GF ratings achieved last three starts (left to right). Globeform ratings are expressed in pounds. 1 length = 2lbs over this distance. 113p 108p 108 105p 104 104 104?? MENDELSSOHN THREEANDFOURPENCE SEAHENGE RERIDE GOLD TOWN YULONG WARRIOR RAYYA filly * TAIKI FERVEUR RUGGERO A O'Brien A P O'Brien A P O'Brien S Asmussen C Appleby S Seemar D Watson M Makiura Y Sihako R Moore S Heffernan D O'Brien J Castellano W Buick R Mullen P Dobbs J Moreira C-P Lemaire 113p 110+ 112+?p 108p 105+ 108 0 103+ 94p 98p 105p 98p 100p 104? 90p 104?p 100 104?????? Rayya: 2kg (4.4lbs) sex weight allowance, add 4.4 to rating for direct comparison with males. 2017 THUNDER SNOW / Globeform 113 GLOBEFORM ANALYSIS MENDELSSOHN, who was conceding five pounds (about 2.5kg) to his runner-up, stable companion Threeandfourpence, when making a winning reappearance in a Listed event at Dundalk three weeks prior to Dubai World Cup night, takes the most solid form into this year's UAE Derby. The win told us little new about the colt, other than the fact that he seems to have trained on at three. A half-brother to the high class mare Beholder, he landed the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar on his final start last term. The form of that event has worked out quite well since, with Catholic Boy (fourth) taking the Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct next time out, My Boy Jack (seventh) capturing the 2018 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park and Flameaway (eighth) winning the Sam F. Davis and running second in the Tampa Bay Derby this winter. Trained by Aidan O'Brien, the $3 million purchase Mendelssohn was second, 2 ½ lengths behind another stablemate, U S Navy Flag, when going off at 50-1 for the prestigious Dewhurst Stakes over 7 furlongs at at Newmarket before heading to Del Mar, where he adapted well to the course, was given a peach of a ride by Ryan Moore, and ran out a game one-length winner from Untamed Domain, who had won the Summer Stakes at Woodbine on his previous outing. The UAE Derby represents new challenges for Mendelssohn. Two 'unknowns' come into the picture; the surface and the distance. He has yet to race over a dirt track and he has never run further than 8.5 furlongs. He is certainly bred to act on dirt, and also to stay further than what he has tried so far and he has shown himself to be efficient over tracks as different as Newmarket (straight 7-fur course), Del Mar (left handed run around two turns with a short home stretch), Dundalk (left-handed polytrack venue) and the Curragh (where he won his maiden over a mile last August). If he handles the dirt, something one would assume his trainer is confident of, he will go very close here. Mendelssohn has quite a prominent running style and that has been advantageous at Meydan lately. A strong, scopey sort, Mendelssohn was foaled as last as on May 17, and there is every reason to believe he will progress as a three-year-old. Whether is will be good enough to make an impact in the Kentucky Derby is hard to say, but he will probably take all the beating in the UAE Derby a race his connections hope will book his ticket to Churchill Downs in early May.
Mendelssohn winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar. Photo: Breeders' Cup Inc. THREEANDFOURPENCE, also representing Ballydoyle, could prove to be the main rival to Mendelssohn. This colt, a brother to G1 juvenile winners Hit It A Bomb and Brave Anna, was actually well backed to beat Meandelssohn when they prepped at Dundalk, but he went down by ¾ length while in receipt of 5lbs. On paper, it looks straightforward; he will be struggling to reverse the form. Ratings, weights and lengths are not the only factors to consider in racing though, and there are good reasons for giving Threeandfourpence a good look. He set the pace at Dundalk, and he was not given a hard time by his rider down the home stretch. If anything, he looked the strongest as they were approaching the winning post. Threeandfourpence probably is a serious contender here. He ran three times as a juvenile, when he broke his maiden at the second time of asking (over 6 furlongs on soft ground at Faityhouse) before stepping up in class in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket in October, when he finished fourth, 5 ¼ lengths behind U S Navy Flag - Mendelssohn was second and Seahenge finished third. Threeandfourpence and Seahenge both had some trouble in running that day. You can make an 'each-way case' also for Seahenge of course, but it's the impression Threeandfourpence gave us through the last furlong at Dundalk that makes him the one it's easiest to like. Mendelssohn was really asked by Ryan Moore, Threeandfourpence was allowed to coast home, and Seahenge was running on from off the pace. It's also worth bearing in mind that Threeandfourpence had a less demanding juvenile campaign and may be the one open to most improvement this year. SEAHENGE raced six times last term, and produced his best form when gaining a visually impressive win in the 7-furlong Champagne Stakes at Doncaster in September. Coming with a smooth run from off the pace, he took charge in the dying strides and was a neck better than previous Listed winner Hey Garman. It was not a particularly strong renewal of the Champagne. Seahenge next went for the Dewhurst, where he was third, and rounded his season off in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster, where he ran a dull race and came home in eighth place, 10 lengths behind Saxon Warrior (also trained by O'Brien). RERIDE, the lone US representative, won the Mine That Bid Derby, a minor event over a mile at Sunland Park in February, when he came home by 2 ½ lengths from Runaway Ghost, with the rest more than 15 lengths further adrift. Runaway Ghost gave the form a boost when he was a comfortable winner of the Sunland Derby last Sunday (beating Dream Baby Dream and Peace). Prior to the Mine That Bird, Reride had won the Big Drama Stakes over Delta Downs (by a nose from Double Star, who was demoted) and he was sixth in last year's Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs, where he passed the winning post 7 ¾ length behind the winner, Enticed - one of the leading contenders for the Kentucky Derby. Reride looked strong at the finish in the Mine That Bird, and he was full of energy coming back in. This contender could well be the surprise package in the UAE Derby. He has won four of his five races to date.
GOLD TOWN is he really on the verge of top class or have those put in front of him so far in Dubai all been rather ordinary performers? True, he did improve after being gelded in England last year, but a third and a win in nursery handicaps at Newmarket when racing off 96 and 99 was not exactly form making anyone think of him as classic material. Though that's exactly what he is. Two ridiculously easy wins in January and February, both at long odds-on, has made him favourite for the UAE Derby. He beat Roland Rocks by 4 ¼ lengths in the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial and powered home by 10 ½ lengths from Gotti in the Guineas. A son of World Cup winner Street Cry out of turf Listed winner Pimpernel, Gold Town has clearly improved since being switched to dirt but horses he beat by wide margins came back to be beaten even further behind Yulong Warrior in the Al Bastakiya, so perhaps he looked a great deal better than he actually is. His best form at two came in his sixth start, when he beat Dragons Tail by 3 ½ lengths in a four-runner handicap over 7 furlongs on good to soft ground. His runner-up was third and sixth in two subsequent outings, while the third placed horse, Fleeting Freedom, ran to about the same level of form to finish fourth, second, third and second in his next four races. YULONG WARRIOR made significant improvement when winning the Al Bastakiya three weeks prior to World Cup night, and he is similar to Gold Town in that he is an ex-european who appears to have moved forward by many lengths compared to his juvenile form. Perhaps it is the switch to dirt that have made them so much better, though it could also be that they have met rather ordinary horses at Meydan. Yulong Warrior ran four times in maiden races in Ireland last year, and was placed in all. He began his 3yo season with a fifth over 1400 metres (7 fur.) in January, before winning over 1600 metres in February (beating Roy Orbison by 1 ¾ lengths after leading from gate to wire). Those were the tactics also when he stepped up to 1900 metres the full Derby distance in the Al Bastakiya, and he was totally unchallenged, winning as he pleased by 11 ½ lengths from 80-1 chance Nordic Defense. The maiden Rua Augusta (66-1) ran third, while Roy Orbison was now back in fifth, beaten no less than 24 lengths he had been 15 ¾ lengths behind Gold Town when fifth in the UAE 2,000 Guineas. Gotti, who was beaten 10 ½ lengths when second to Gold Town in the Guineas, was beaten 32 lengths into seventh in the Al Bastakiya. So why is Gold Town 11/10 in the UAE Derby betting, and Yulong Warrior as big as 16-1? GLOBEFORM SELECTIONS A: 4 MENDELSSOHN B: 9 THREEANFOURPENCE C: 3 RERIDE, 5 GOLD TOWN, 6 SEAHENGE, 7 YULONG WARRIOR COPYRIGHT 2018, G W Stabell / / ALL RIGHTS RESERVED This material may not be published, broadcast, electronically stored, rewritten or redistributed.
Race 5 GLOBEFORM RATINGS AL QUOZ SPRINT (G1) 1200 m / 6 furlongs turf / Meydan / 31 March 2018 Runners presented with best Globeform ratings, trainers / riders and GF ratings achieved last three starts (left to right). Globeform ratings are expressed in pounds. 1 length = 3lbs over this distance. 120 119 119 118p 117 117 116 115 114 114 113 113 111 111 110 ERTIJAAL - SCRATCHED LIBRISA BREEZE CONQUEST TSUNAMI BLUE POINT STORMY LIBERAL JUNGLE CAT RICHARD'S BOY HOLDING GOLD FAATINAH BACCARAT MAGICAL MEMORY * WASHINGTON D.C. MUSICAL MAGNATE ILLUSTRIOUS LAD HIT THE BID 2017 A R Al Rayhi D Ivory P Miller C Appleby P Miller C Appleby P Miller M Casse D Hayes C Appleby C Hills A P O'Brien B Baker P Gelagotis D Bunyan J Crowley R Winston V Ezpinoza W Buick J Rosario J Doyle K Desormeaux J Castellano D O'Neill M Barzalona F Dettori R Moore B Shinn A Darmanin L Roche 120 119 109 112 110 119? 114p 119 103 117p 118p 86 117 115+ 110 113 117 98 105 103 107 110+ 105+? - 114 108 110 114 105 105 0 105 0 102 109 0 0 111 104 107 0 107 110 108 THE RIGHT MAN / Globeform 116 * Magical Memory performed to Globeform 117 in 2016 GLOBEFORM ANALYSIS ERTIJAAL has been placed in the two most recent editions of this turf sprint and, although 5 furlongs suits him better, he does have a chance of making it third time lucky. His 2018 form has been every bit as good as in seasons past, with a solid handicap win (by half a length from Hit The Bid when conceding 12lbs) in January, and a gutsy head verdict over Blue Point in the Meydan Sprint in February (both over the minimum trip). However, the distance seemed to find him out when he went on to the Nad Al She Turf Sprint over 6 furlongs on March 10. He put in another game run but Jungle Cat outstayed him to win by 2 ¼ lengths. Ertijaal was beaten ¾ length by the Australia invader Buffering two years ago and last year he was third behind the French trained The Right Man and North America's contender Long On Value, beaten 1 ¼ lengths by the winner. He has very good early speed and thus always gets himself into a good, trouble free, position but he is likely to face pressure early on here, and could once more be vulnerable at the finish. Update 28 March: Ertijaal is a non-runner. LIBRISA BREEZE, a six-year-old with 6 wins from 16 starts to date, was one of the best sprinters in England last year, when he produced his career best with a game 1 1/4-length win over Tasleet in the British Champions Sprint over 6 furlongs at Ascot in October. He came from off the pace to lead inside the final furlong and ran on too well for his rivals. Tasleet was coming off a second to top sprinter Harry Angel at Haydock Park and Caravaggio, who ran third at Ascot, had beaten Harry Angel at the Royal Ascot meeting. Harry Angel, who may not have handled the soft ground, finished fourth. The performance sure looked solid but it was achieved under quite testing conditions, and Librisa Breeze will be racing over a much faster turf course at Meydan. The ground was soft also when he finished second, 1 ¾ lengths behind Massaat, in the 7furlong Hungerford Stakes at Newbury while he had previously been fourth on good to firm ground in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (2 ¼ lengths behind The Tin Man). Globeform ratings put him in with big chance in the Al Quoz, and he is a contender. A strong early pace is likely, and that suits him well.
CONQUEST TSUNAMI is an interesting 'longshot' in the Al Quoz Sprint. Based on Globeform ratings he is no longshot, that's for sure, but bookmakers have him as high as 20-1, obviously in the knowledge that US turf sprinters are normally up against it in a straight dash like this. Not always, however. Remember 66-1 shot Long On Value twelve months ago? He finished best of all from well off the pace, and would have won the race in another stride, failing by a nose in his attempt at catching The Right Man, with Ertijaal, Jungle Cat and Richard's Boy filling the next places. Conquest Tsunami is a better horse than Long On Value was, and his running style is better too. This is a very speedy, strong running but relaxed, runner from California. Having recently joined sprint specialist Peter Miller's team, he won the Daytona over 6.5 furlongs on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita in February. Going straight to the lead, he could be called the winner as soon as they turned into the home straight, and he ran on strongly to beat his barnmate Stormy Liberal, who won last year's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at a big price for us, by 2 ½ lengths. STORMY LIBERAL also goes for the Al Quoz and, as he was making his first start since the Breeders' Cup, he was probably not quite as fit as Conquest Tsunami who had won over the course in January, and it's also worth noting that Stormy Liberal carried 4lbs more than Conquest Tsunami. They both have a decent chance in the Al Quoz but Conquest Tsunami ran to Globeform 119 in the Datona and thus takes the better rating into the contest. Not many horses manage to make all in top turf sprints over 6.5 furlongs at Santa Anita. He is likely to be as fast as any from the gates, and he is likely to have more left at the end than most others. So at 16-1 he really is a must bet. Another bet on Stormy Liberal, who can be backed at 33-1, also makes sense. His Breeders' Cup win, over 5 furlongs at Del Mar, was gained at the expense of yet another Miller trainee, the old warrior RICHARD'S BOY, who he beat by a head after a great tussle through the last half-furlong. Disco Partner, winner of three good sprints earlier in the year, was half a length further back. Stormy Liberal is a speedy runner but he also rates well, as we saw at Del Mar, something that makes him quite a versatile sprinter. Stormy Liberal (4) was a great Globeform winner at last year's Breeders' Cup. Photo: Benoit
BLUE POINT ran on well at the finish of the Meydan Sprint in Feruary, but came up just short in his attempt at catching the odds-on favourite, Etrijaal, as the two were 3 ¼ lengths clear of Hit The Bid in third. Blue Point gave the impression that he could beat Ertijaal over further, and the Al Quoz will suit him well. A fouryear-old son of Shamardal, he beat good sprinters when making all to win the 6-furlong Bengough Stakes at Ascot last autumn. He held on by half a length from Projection, as Magical Memory was 3 ½ lengths back in third place. This win was by no means a surprise. Blue Point had beaten Harry Angel in the Pavilion Stakes in May and finished third to Caravaggio in the Commonwealth Stakes in June (both also over 6 furlongs at Ascot). This Godolphin colt is a potential improver, he is favourite with many bookmakers, and he must be respected. JUNGLE CAT is coming off his career best effort, a fine 2 1/4-length win from Ertijaal in the 6-furlong Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint three weeks prior to World Cup night. A six-year-old with plenty of experience, and great enthusiasm, he holds place claims here. This son of Iffraaj never runs a bad race. He had opened his 2018 campaign with a 3/4-length win over Dubai Turf contender Janoobi in the Al Fahidi Fort over 1400 metres (7 fur) in January, and he was fourth in the 2017 edition of the Al Quoz. His form this winter has been every bit as good, if not a touch better. Jungle Cat stays better than many of these and he has place claims with a smooth run. RICHARD'S BOY also comes into the reckoning, based on his narrow defeat against Stormy Liberal at the Breeders' Cup last autumn, and he ran quite well to finish fifth in this event twelve months ago. All in all, this is quite an open looking affair. Bookmakers have Blue Pont as the favourite, and that undersandable, but no horse should be as short as even money in this race and there's value to be had for thos wanting to oppose him. HOLDING GOLD ran his best race to date when beating Green Mask by a neck in the 5.5-furlong Shakertown Stakes at Keeneland last April (when the useful yardstick Hogy was 1 ½ lengths further adrift in third). It was a fine performance by Holding Gold, who had joined Mark Casse's team earlier in the year and he came close to the same level of form when third behind Disco Partner and Green Mask in the Jaipur over 6 furlongs at Belmont Park in June, and again when runner-up to Green Mask in a Listed event at Saratoga in August, but he had to settle for seventh behind Stormy Liberal when going for the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar (beaten just 1 ¾ lengths over a track that dis not suit his closing style). Holding Gold opened his 2018 campaign with a half-length win as the hot favorite in the Colonel Power Stakes over 5.5 furlongs at Fair Grounds in February. Receiving 4lbs from his runner-up, Will Call, he did not need to be at his best to prevail that day. Will Call was coming off two nice allowance wins, and was clearly in top shape, but Holding Court's winning time was 2 seconds off the track record, set by Hogy last year. GLOBEFORM SELECTIONS A: 9 CONQUEST TSUNAMI B: 13 BLUE POINT C: 3 LIBRISA BREEZE, 5 STORMY LIBERAL, 10 JUNGLE CAT
Race 6 GLOBEFORM RATINGS DUBAI GOLDEN SHAHEEN (G1) 1200 m / 6 furlongs dirt / Meydan / 31 March 2018 Runners presented with best Globeform ratings, trainers / riders and GF ratings achieved last three starts (left to right). Globeform ratings are expressed in pounds. 1 length = 3lbs over this distance. 128 126 125 117 114? 111 104 102? ROY H X Y JET MIND YOUR BISCUITS MUARRAB SCRATCHED JORDAN SPORT MY CATCH REYNALDOTHEWIZARD * SHILLONG SCRATCHED MATERA SKY P Miller J Navarro C Summers M Al Mheiri F Nass D Watson S Seemar H Al Alawi H Mori K Desormeaux E Jaramillo J Rosario J Crowley A de Vries P Dobbs R Mullen P Cosgrave Y Take 121 126 128 110+ 118+ 122 116+ 119 109+ 117 107 88 105 80 114? 107 111 0 101 104 97 90 90 102?-?-? * Reynaldothewizard performed to GF 117 in January 2017, but has been well below that level since 2017 MIND YOUR BISCUITS / Globeform 123 GLOBEFORM ANALYSIS An American clean sweep is very much on the cards here, as three top class US sprinters meet rather an ordinary bunch of locals. Breeders' Cup winner Roy H, last year's Golden Shaheen winner Mind Your Biscuits and X Y Jet, who was a close second here two years ago, are all too good for the likes of Muarrab and Jordan Sport. ROY H produced a rock solid performance to win the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Del Mar last November, and his first start this year was even better, as he outclassed his rival and clocked an excellent time while under wraps in the Palos Verdes at Santa Anita on February 3. Having returned GF 126 at the Breeders' Cup, he moved up to GF 128 in the Palos Verdes, and there could be better still to come from this powerful son of More Than Ready, trained by sprint specialist Peter Miller. He was value for a bit more than the bare margin when beating Imperial Hint by a length in the BC Sprint, a race that saw Mind your Biscuits stay on for third, 3 lengths behind the winner. Roy H raced prominently throughout, made his move inside the last quarter and took over half a furlong from the winning post. A three-month break followed and he resurfaced in great shape at Santa Anita last month. Beating Americanize by 3 ½ lengths while conceding 4lbs, he looked looked value for about five lengths. The Golden Shaheen trip is ideal for Roy H, and coming to a new track should not be a cause for concern. Prior to his big win at Del Mar, he had also captured the True North at Belmont Park and the Santa Anita Sprint Championship. He is a strong running, game and enthusiastic horse, and he has plenty of experience. A logical favourite for this year's Golden Shaheen. MIND YOUR BISCUITS won the Golden Shaheen twelve months ago and, if back to his best, he may be a big threat to the favourite. He was readily beaten by Roy H at Del Mar and his seasonal debut was disappointing, but there are a couple of factors to consider here; firstly that, while the long straight at Meydan suits him ideally, the short finish at Del Mar was totally against him, and secondly that he needed the run badly when beaten a head by Conquest Windycity at Gulfstream Park in February. Mind Your Biscuits impressed when winning here twelve months ago (by 3 lengths 'going away' from Comicas) and again when slamming Awesome Slew by 3 ½ lengths in the 7-furlong Belmont Sprint Championship in July. His run at Del Mar, where 6-furlong races are extremely difficult for deep closers, was respectable, as was his runnerup effort behind Sharp Azteca in the Cigar Mile at Aqueduct in December. Back at Meydan, and back in a race that will probably be run to suit his style, Mind Your Biscuits could go close again.
X Y JET who picked up an injury when narrowly beaten by Muarrab in this race two years ago is back for a second crack at the Golden Shaheen, and his three runs since a lengthy break have resulted in three wins. He might be as good as ever in which case he holds a winning chance. X Y Jet had been off for over a year when making a winning return in the 6-furlong Mr Prospector Stakes at Gulfstream Park last December, a race he won readily, beating First Growth by half a length. It was nowhere near his career best but it was a good come-back. A month later he went for the Sunshine Millions Sprint, over the same course and distance, and moved up considerably to win again, this time by 5 ½ lengths from Mo Cash. His next target was the Pelican Stakes, a minor event at Tampa Bay Downs in February. The opposition was once more well below G1 standard, and it showed, as X Y Jet strolled home by 7 lengths from Jaguar Poz (a winner of six allowance races). X Y Jet's winning time, 1.09.17, was just half a second off the track record, set by It's Me Mom six years ago. This front-running and dominant performance was estimated to GF 122 and it was visually quite impressive. X Y Jet ran to Globeform 126 when he won the 2016 Sunshine Millions Sprint. GLOBEFORM SELECTIONS A: 6 ROY H B: 1 MIND YOUR BISCUITS, 2 X Y JET GLOBEFORM'S WEEKEND RATINGS DON'T MISS THE LAUNCH NEXT WEEKEND - SAMPLE RACE BELOW
Globeform's Weekend Ratings Service Saturday March 31, 2018 GLOBEFORM RANKING GOLDEN SHAHEEN (G1) 6 furlongs dirt, Meydan, 31 Mar 2018 Horses ranked in pounds. 1 length = 3 pounds over this distance Rank Horse Globeform Rank past 3 runs Top3 Trainer / Jockey % 66 Miller / Desormeaux 0 ROY H 128* 7 2 0 2 X Y JET 126* 18+ 10+ 6 75 Navarro / Jaramillo 3 MIND YOUR BISCUITS 125 12+ 9 19+ 85 Summers / Rosario 11 MUARRAB SCRATCHED 117* 11 21 X 71 Al Rayhi / Crowley 11 REYNALDOTHEWIZARD 117 / 104 27 24 31 60 Seemar / Mullen 14 JORDAN SPORT 114* 23 X 14 56 Nass / de Vries 17 MY CATCH 111 21 17 X 45 Watson / Dobbs??-?-? 43 Mori / Take 102 38 38 26 56 Al Alawi / Cosgrave? 26 MATERA SKY SHILLONG SCRATCHED Please adjust Globeform ranking figures to any overweights. See explanatory notes. 2017: MIND YOUR BISCUITS GLOBEFORM 123 Chad Summers / Joel Rosario Globeform rating codes used P = significant improvement expected p = improvement expected + = improvement expected from this run, but the horse had already run to a higher rating in the past.? = provisional rating or uncertain form * = best GF rating was achieved over today's distance & surface See more under Explanatory Notes on the last page GLOBEFORM'S WEEKEND RATINGS APR 7 SANTA ANITA, KEENELAND, AQUEDUCT Place your order on
Race 7 GLOBEFORM RATINGS THE DUBAI TURF (G1) 1800 m / 9 furlongs turf / Meydan / 31 March 2018 Runners presented with best Globeform ratings, trainers / riders and GF ratings achieved last three starts (left to right). Globeform ratings are expressed in pounds. 1 length = 2lbs over this distance. 119 119 117p 117 117 115 115 114 114 113 113 113 112 111 111 REAL STEEL NEOREALISM MONARCHS GLEN TRAIS FLUORS LANCASTER BOMBER VIVLOS filly * CHAMPIONSHIP BLAIR HOUSE BENBATL DEIRDRE filly * WAR DECREE LESHLAA JANOOBI PROMISING RUN mare * CROCOSMIA mare * Y Yahagi N Hori J Gosden A Fabre A P O'Brien Y Tomomich A Bin Harmash C Appleby S bin Suroor M Hashida A P O'Brien S bin Suroor M de Kock S bin Suroor K Nishiura M Barzalona J Moreira F Dettori V Cheminaud R Moore C Demuro S de Sousa W Buick O Murphy C-P Lemaire S Heffernan C Soumillon J Crowley P Cosgrave Y Iwata 107 119 106 119 0 112 107p 110p 117p 115 117 105 109 0 116 112 108 105 115 0 110 100 97 114 113 114 112 113 102 103 113 0 103 113 113 0 111 112 112 111 110 110 109 111 99 * Fillies / mares: 2kg (4.4lbs) sex weight allowance add 4.4 to GF rating for comparison with males. 2017 VIVLOS / Globeform 115 GLOBEFORM ANALYSIS DUBAI TURF REAL STEEL won the 2016 edition of the Dubai Turf, beating Euro Charline by half a length, with Tryster 2 lengths further back in third place. This Japanese contender, who is one of the best performers in his homeland, ran to the same level of form when capturing the Mainichi Okan over 1800 metres at Tokyo racecourse last October, and he could well prove good enough to win the Dubai Turf for a second time. He was a neck in front of Yasuda Kinen winner Satono Aladdin in the Mainichi a race contested on firm ground. The ground came up soft for Real Steel's next task, the Tenno Sho Autumn in late October, and he wound up fourth in the championship event, beaten 7 ¾ lengths by the winner, Kitasan Black (Sheema Classic contender Satono Cown finished second). Real Steel's best form has come on good and firm ground, so we should not read too much into that below-par effort. His best form gives him every chance here, he has run well fresh in the past, and we know he likes the trip so Real Steel must be highly ranked. NEOREALISM is closely matched with Real Steel, strengthening Japan's hand further in this turf contest. Efficient over 1800 and 2000 metres, Neorealism won the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Sha Tin in Hong Kong last April. As he had done also in some of his previous races, he raced very keenly but had enough energy left to produce a strong finish that took him to the lead approaching the final furlong. He fought of bravely to hold on from the local favourites Pakistan Star and Werther. The margins between the trio were two necks, while the fourth-placed Brazing Speed was beaten a length by Neorealism, who was coming off a 3/4-length win over Sakura Empereur in the Nakayama Kinen two months earlier. The son of Neo Universe was well beaten when unplaced in Kitasan Black's Tenno Sho Autumn in October, but shaped much better in the Hong Kong Cup back at Sha Tin in December, taking third behind Time Warp and Werther. Neorealism is seven years old now and his best days at the races may be behind him but the form of his QE II win is good enough to give him a chance in the Dubai Turf.
MONARCHS GLEN makes a lot of appeal. This four-year-old son of Frankel, who is John Gosden's only runner on Dubai World Cup night, was progressing really well in the second half of the season in England last year, after being gelded and given a 14-week break in the summer. A talented runner with mental issues, he seemed to grow up with every one of his three runs in the autumn, producing GF 107p, GF 110p and finally Globeform 117p in these races, over three quite different racecourses. If that kind of improvement continues he will be a high class runner in 2018, and he is a very tempting 12-1 bet in the Dubai Turf. Monarchs Glen's first run as a gelding came in a 10-furlong handicap at Sandown Park, where he finished second, 1 ½ lengths behind the in-form four-year-old Thundering Blue (who was notching his third win on the bounce). Monarchs Glen was conceding 13lbs and was the best horse on the day. Gosden had seen enough to step him up in class, and did so in the Foundation Stakes over the same distance at Goodwood 25 days later. Monarchs Glen encountered soft ground, and found himself in a battle with an older horse who loves such conditions, What About Carlo, but fought on really well to win by a head. His next, and final race of the term was to be the Darley Club Stakes, run over 9 furlongs at Newmarket (straight course) in mid-october. Monarchs Glen gained an impressive win. Watching the final furlong, this win appears solid rather than flashy, as he drew off to beat Robin Of Navan by 1 ¼ lengths. It was the way Monarchs Glen travelled through the race that caught the eye. Like at Goodwood, he held his place just off the pace with ease, racing with great zest under a confident Dettori ride. Such a quality will stand him in good stead as he tries G1 company. Having won over further than the Dubai Turf distance, and also passed the stamina test over nine panels at the Rowley Mile course in Newmarket, Monarchs Glen looks ideal for the Dubai Turf. He has been wearing a hood in the paddock and also been taken down early so there's the worry, he could become worked up in the preliminaries at Meydan. Hopefully, his team have been successful in calming him further over the winter and we will see a serious racehorse in action. He is definitely worth a bet. TRAIS FLUORS representing the powerful Fabre team drew well in stall four and also comes into the reckoning. He is a possible improver and this step up from mile races at home will probably suit him. He won his first three races in 2017, graduating from a win at lowly Compiegne, to a Listed win at Chantilly and success in the Prix Paul de Moussac at Chantilly in June, when he came from well of the pace to beat Stunning Spirit by a length. Trais Fluors was moved up to Group 1 company on his next start, and he ran a good second to Dubai World Cup contender Thunder Snow in the Prix Jean Prat at the same venue, beaten 1 ¼ lengths with the smart filly Gold Luck the same margin behind him in third. Trais Fluors was given a waiting ride but he sat much closer to the pace than he did in the Moussac. Another crack at top level competition followed in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deuville in August, when he had a troubled run and came home in fourth place, behind Al Wukair, Inns Of Court and Thunder Snow. Trais Fluors was given a prep for the Dubai Turf running over a mile on the all weather track at Chantilly in early March. Sent off the 4/5 favourite, he was beaten ¾ length by the solid handicapper Hunaina (who he was giving 4.5kg / 10lbs). Trais Fluors was not given a hard race and it was a useful outing. LANCASTER BOMBER is another horse who earned his career best Globeform in defeat at Royal Ascot, having run to GF 117 when beaten only a length into fourth place behind Barney Roy in the St. James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot last summer. He continued running well in high class races, most notably when second to World Approval both in the Woodbine Mile and the Breeders' Cup Mile, and he is another who could sneak into a place in this wide open affair.
VIVLOS won this event twelve months ago, when she finished well from midpack to win by half a length from Heshem. Ribchester, who went on to be one of the best milers around in 2017, was third and another G1 winner, the French trained Zarak, filled fourth place. Heshem, on the other hand, did not run again last season but came back with an odds-on win in lesser company at Chantilly this winter. Vivlos ran a decent race back home in Japan when second to CROCOSMIA in the Fuchu Himba Stakes but het two subsequent starts were below par. BLAIR HOUSE and his Jebel Hatta runner-up BENBATL, who had earlier won both the Singspiel Stakes and Al Rashidiya Stakes, are closely matched on ratings and valuable wins at Meydan will give this Godolphin duo plenty of attention but their level of their form both a bit below what is required to win the Dubai Turf at least so far. GLOBEFORM SELECTIONS A: 9 MONARCHS GLEN B: 4 TRAIS FLUORS, 8 REEL STEEL C: 2 NEOREALISM COPYRIGHT 2018, G W Stabell / / ALL RIGHTS RESERVED This material may not be published, broadcast, electronically stored, rewritten or redistributed.
Race 8 GLOBEFORM RATINGS DUBAI SHEEMA CLASSIC (G1) 2400 m / 12 furlongs turf / Meydan / 31 March 2018 Horses presented with best Globeform ratings, trainers / riders and GF ratings achieved last three starts (left to right). Globeform ratings are expressed in pounds. 1 length = 1,5lbs over this distance. 122 122 120 120 119 119 113 114 111 111 CLOTH OF STARS SATONO CROWN REY DE ORO IDAHO HAWKBILL POET'S WORD MOZU KATCHAN filly * BEST SOLUTION DESERT ENCOUNTER KHALIDI A Fabre N Hori K Fujisawa A P O'Brien C Appleby Sir M Stoute I Sameshima S bin Suroor D Simcock C Cox M Barzalona J Moreira C-P Lemaire R Moore W Buick F Dettori C Demuro P Cosgrave S Levey S de Sousa 117 122 113+ 122 105 112 119 120 119 115 96 112+ 115 114 117 119 114 109 110 113 112 114 114 0 0 111 108 111 109 103 * Mozu Katchan: 2kg (4.4lbs) sex weight allowance, add 4.4 to GF rating for direct comparison with males. 2017 JACK HOBBS / Globeform 122 GLOBEFORM ANALYSIS This year's Sheema Classic has come up a very competitive, high quality, affair. With half a dozen rated with a couple of lengths, this turf contest is wide open. CLOTH OF STARS get a narrow vote he is a classy sort and possibly open to improvement this season. He is a hot contender sporting the Godolphin colours, though handled by multiple French champion trainer Andre Fabre. A steady improver through five runs last season, when he closed his campaign out with a career best effort to finish second to Enable in the Prix de l'arc de Triomphe over this distance at Chantilly, he has been aimed at this event all winter. We can expect Fabre to have him in peak form on the big day. Cloth Of Stars won his first three races in 2017, beating Star Victory in a G3 at Saint-Cloud, then beating Mekhtaal in a G2 at Chantilly, before a neck verdict over Zarak in the prestigious Prix Ganay at Saint-Cloud on May 1. He was given a long break in order to come back fresh in the autumn and resurfaced in the Prix Foy at Chantilly on September 10. It's one of three important 'Arc' preps, run over the full 2400-metre distance, and Cloth Of Stars shaped nicely to take second, 1 ½ lengths behind Dschingis Secret. It was a perfect prep, leading to another step up in the championship event three weeks later, when he was 2 ½ lengths behind the impressive filly Enable, with fellow G1 winners Ulysses, Order Of St George and Brametot filling third, fourth and fifth. Dschingis Secret had to settle for sixth. Cloth Of Stars was held up in midfield in the Arc, and he came with strong run to get up for second with about half a furlong to go. He never threatened Enable, but was a clear runner-up, and she really was a bit special last year. Cloth Of Stars has won four times at the left-handed Saint-Cloud and Meydan should suit him just fine but very firm ground would be a worry (he has done all his racing on good and soft ground). He prepped for Dubai in the Prix Darshaan over 1900 metres (9.5 fur) on the Polytrack at Chantilly on March 6, and ran a game race to finish second, 1 ¾ lengths behind another Fabre trainee, Dubai World Cup contender Talismanic. Cloth of Stars, who needs 12 furlongs to show his best, was compromised by the moderate pace and raced a bit too freely. Like the winner, he was under a hand ride from start to finish. Third home was Savoken, a game and consistent performer who has won four times and run to around the 100mark in the past. He was 3 ½ lengths behind Cloth Of Stars while carrying 2kg (4lbs) less.
SATONO CROWN takes strong Japanese form into the battle, having won the Takarazuka Kine over 2200 metres (11 furlongs) at Hanshin last summer by ¾ length from Gold Actor and finished a game second to the high class runner Kitasan Back in the Tenno Sho Autumn over 2000 metres in Tokyo. Kitasan Black was the 2016 winner of the Japan Cup, and he went on to that event once more after his win in the Tenno Sho, a race Satono Crown also used as a prep for the Japan Cup. Kitasan Black fared best, checking in third behind Cheval Grand and REY DE ORO, while Satono Crown was back in tenth place. IDAHO, another Sheema contender, finished fifth. Satono Cown was beaten a long way also in the Arima Kinen over 2500 metres at Nakayama in December, when Kitasan Black was back in winning form, while Satona Crown beat just three of his 15 opponents. Now six, Satono Crown is coming off two dull efforts, but don't write this old warrior off. He has run well fresh in the past, he has the class to handle most of these, and remember, this is the horse that swept by Highland Reel for a fine half-length win in the 2016 Hong Kong Vase. REY DE ORO finished well in fron of Satono Crown in the Japan Cup, run over the same distance as the Sheema Classic, and this 4-year-old may be able to progress further in 2018. He fought on bravely in the Japan Cup, but Cheval Grand proved too strong and beat him by 1 ¼ lengths. This was Rey de Oro's first start against older horses. He won the Japanese Derby and St. Leger Trial and was the top 3yo around. His Derby win, gained oner 2400 metres at Tokyo racecourse in late May, came at the expense of subsequent dual G2 winner Suave Richard, who he beat readily by ¾ length. Rey de Oro's Leger Trial win, also over 2400 metres but run at Hanshin in September, was easier he beat Kiseki by 2 lengths, with Satono Arthur third and Danburite fourth. Kiseki gave the form a nice boost by landing the St. Leger a month later when he won by 2 lengths from Clincher, the horse who won this year's Kyoto Kinen, a race Rey de Oro used as his prep for a trip to Meydan. He made a good impression on the day, finishing third to Clincher under a tough weigh assignment. Racing over a soft turf course (which may not have suited him all that well), Rey de Oro was beaten 1 ¼ lengths. Globeform ratings show that it was was performance close to his best to date, indicating that there's more to come from this son of King Kamehameha. He has a good chance in the Sheema Classic. IDAHO is an intriguing contender. A big, strong horse, and a bother to Highland Reel, he is now five years old, and it will be interesting to see whether he can step up a notch on his best from shown last year. If he can, well then he will be a serious contender in this division. He ran his best race when third behind Enable and Ulysses in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes over 12 furlongs at Ascot last July (5 ¼ lengths behind the winner, with Highland Reel fourth). Idaho, who had previously won the Hardwicke Stakes over the same course and distance (by half a length from Barsanti), failed to reproduce his 'King George' form on four subsequent starts, though they were all tough races. He was not too well ridden when sixth of seven in the Sword Dancer at Saratoga, then beaten 7 ¼ lengths into eighth place behind Enable in the Prix de l'arc de Triomhpe, a dull fourth in the Canadian International, and finally a respectable fifth in the Japan Cup (from a bad draw). As Aidan O'Brien's only runner in the Sheema, he must be respected. GLOBEFORM'S BETTING PLANS All betting plans now added see last two pages.
Hawkbill beating Frontiersman in the Dubai City Of Gold Photo: A Watkins / Meydan HAWKBILL, winner of the 2016 Eclipse Stakes, is probably best over 1 ¼ miles (2000 metres), but he handled the Sheema course and distance well when winning the local prep for this race, the Dubai City of Gold on March 10. It was hard fought success, however, as another Goldolphin runner, the Gold Cup bound Frontiersman, pushed him all he way to the line. Hawkbill won by a head. He beat Frontiersman also when coming home the ¾-length winner of the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket last summer. That event, also run over 1 ½ miles, is further proof that Hawkbill who is a half brother to Kentucky Derby hopeful Free Drop Billy, stays the Sheema trip but does he stay it well enough to handle the likes of Cloth Of Stars and Rey de Oro? If the pace comes up slow, then the answer is 'perhaps', but if it's a strongly run affair, it's a 'probably not'. Either way, we are dealing with Godolphin trainee in fine form with home court advantage. It's always a bit risky to dismiss them. POET'S WORD is Sir Michael Stoute's only runner on the day. We should perhaps not rad too much into that, but that Stoute feels he is ready for a tough race like this, while the snow has barely left the ground back home in Newmarket, is significant. Poet's Word is just the type of horse Stoute excels with, a late developing, strong runner who is given time to develop as an older horse. Poet's Word ran just once at two (fourth in a Newmarket maiden), he won twice (a maiden and a handicap) from five runs at three, and worked his way up to a G3 win and two runner-up efforts in G1 company last year. He beat Second Step by 1 ½ length in the Glorious Stakes at Goodwood, before taking second, beaten just half a length by Decorated Hero, in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown. That was his best to date. He was second also in the British Champion Stakes, though 7 lengths behind Cracksman, who handled the soft ground much better than him. Poet's Word was given one more race in 2017, but this trip to the Hong Kong Cup was not profitable. He finished a never threatening fifth, 5 lengths behind Time Warp. Poet's Word would not be a shock if he beats all in the Sheema. He gets Frankie Dettori in the saddle. GLOBEFORM SELECTIONS SHEEMA CLASSIC A: 6 CLOTH OF STARS B: 3 REY DE ORO C: 2 IDAHO, 5 POET'S WORD, 7 HAWKBILL, 8 SATONO CROWN
Race 9 GLOBEFORM RATINGS DUBAI WORLD CUP (G1) 2000 m / 10 furlongs dirt / Meydan / 31 March 2018 Runners presented with best Globeform ratings, trainers / riders and GF ratings achieved last three starts (left to right). Globeform ratings are expressed in pounds. 1 length = 2lbs over this distance. 127 122 119 118 117 116 116 116 110 107 WEST COAST FOREVER UNBRIDLED TALISMANIC THUNDER SNOW NORTH AMERICA GUNNEVERA MUBTAAHIJ PAVEL AWARDEE FURIA CRUZADA mare * B Baffert S Dallas A Fabre S bin Suroor S Seemar A Sano B Baffert D O'Neill M Matsunaga E Charpy J Castellano M Smith M Barzalona C Soumillon R Mullen J Rosario V Ezpinoza M Gutierrez Y Take A Fresu 124 119 127 117+ 121 122 119 116 117+ 0 111 118 94 117 117 116 114-108 0 110 110 0 108 108+ 110 109 96 102 107 101 * Forever Unbridled & Furia Cruzada: 2kg (4.4lbs) sex weight allowance add 4.4 to rating for direct comparison with males 2017 ARROGATE / Globeform 131+ GLOBEFORM ANALYSIS WEST COAST is the horse to beat in this year's Dubai World Cup, and he looks banker material. The Bob Baffert trainee produced his best form to date when runner-up to Horse of The Year Gun Runner in the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park in January, and he is just the type to progress again in his 4year-old season. West Coast lost by 2 ½ lengths against Gun Runner in Florida, thus getting a length closer to him than he did when third in the Breeders' Cup Classic (where Collected ran second). West Coast raced prominently on both occasions, a running style that had been successfully employed in earlier races. He kept on really gamely in the Pegasus and was a clear second, more than then lengths ahead of the third placed Gunnevera. West Coast has good tactical speed, he stays this distance well, he has the best form going into the contest, and he is the most likely improver in the field. Going against him makes little sense. The son of Flatter was the best three-year-old in North America last year. His easy wins in the 10-furlong Travers Stakes at Saratoga and 9-furlong Pennsylvania Derby at Parx came in August and September, and put him well ahead of the likes of Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming and Preakness winner Cloud Computing, never mind Belmont winner Tapwrit. And he ran with credit at the Breeders' Cup. West Coast led all the way in the Travers, running on strongly at the finish to win by 3 ¼ lengths from the closer Gunnevera. Irap finished third, and he was the runner-up as West Coast raced prominently throughout to take the Pennsylvania Derby a month later. The margin was more than seven lengths, though it's important to remember that Irap suffered an injury at Parx, and was retired shortly afterwards. West Coast was worthy of Globeform 124 in both of these races. He was not up to that level in the Breeders' Cup Classic, where he returned GF 119 finishing third, but moved up to GF 127 in the Pegasus World Cup.
FOREVER UNBRIDLED set to carry 2kg (4.44lb) less than the males improved to Globeform 122 when winning last year's Breeders' Cup Distaff. A reproduction of such form would but her right up with West Coast and there's a good chance of a US exacta here. Forever Unbridled, who has been campaigned with care, goes well fresh and the layoff since Del Mar last November is not a worry. Nor is this step up to 10 furlongs, as she has always shown stamina qualities over nine, the distance she tackled at the Breeders' Cup. Forever Unbridled came from off the pace to win the race by half a length from Kentucky Oaks winner Abel Tasman (who was also held up), with Santa Anita Oak winner Paradise Woods beaten 3 ½ lengths in third. This was only the third run of the year for Forever Unbridled. She had previously gained a facile win in the Fleur de Lis Handicap at Churchill Downs in June, and beaten Songbird by a neck to take the prestigious Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga in August. She was third behind Beholder and Songbird in the BC Distaff in 2016, when she won the Beldame at Belmont Park, and she was a stronger, better runner in 2017 when the notable change for a more efficient finishing kick. Forever Unbridled is a very interesting DWC contender. Sure to stay on at the business end, she will be best suited by a strong pace. TALISMANIC will be trying to take solid turf form across to the dirt. Trained by Andre Fabre, who won the Breeders' Cup Classic with Arcangues back in 1993, he should not be underrated. Talismanic won the Breeders' Cup Turf last year, beating Arlington Million winner Beach Patrol by half a length over 1 ½ miles at Del Mar. Highland Reel, winner of the race 12 moths earlier, was third and he reversed the form when meeting Talismanic in the Hong Kong Vase over the same distance a month later. Talismanic seemed to run out of stamina that day, at least compared to Highland Reel, and the sharp Del Mar, with a one-furlong finish, suited him better. He did win the Prix Maurice de Nieuil over 14 furlongs at Saint-Cloud last summer, but that was against much easier opposition. He went from that win to the Prix Foy at Chantilly, where he finished third behind Germany's Dschingis Secret and Cloth Of Stars (who was second in the 'Arc' next time out. Talismanic bypassed the Arc to wait for the Breeders' Cup, and it paid off. He made his return to the races in the Prix Darshaan over 1900 metres (9.5 fur) on the Polytrack at Chantilly on March 6, and won the race snugly by 1 ¾ lengths from Sheema Classic contender Cloth of Stars, who was compromised by the moderate pace and the distance. Talismanic quickened away from the front. He won with a bit in hand. Third home was Savoken, a horse that has run to around the 100-mark in the past. He was 5 ¼ lengths behind Talismanic while carrying 2kg (4lbs) less. It was perfect prep for Talismanic, who was under a hand ride the whole way. The World Cup distance should suit him well and if Fabre is happy to run him on dirt we should not doubt him, though Meydan's dirt oval is quite different the turf course at Del Mar. Talismanic is a son of Medaglia d'oro out of the Machiavellian daughter Magic Mission, who was a smart turf performer for Neil Drysdale at four and five, having been trained by Fabre at two and three. This distaff side is all turf. THUNDER SNOW was close to the best milers in Europe last year, when he won the Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly (beating Trais Fluors by 1 ¼ lengths), and ran placed in the Irish 2,000 Guineas (second to Churchill), third in the St. James's Palace Stakes (behind Barney Roy and Lancaster Bomber) and third again in the Prix Jacques le Marois (in a three-way photo finish with Al Wukair and Inns Of Court). A member of the Godolphin team, Thunder Snow had captured the Criterium International on testing ground as a juvenile, and he beat Japan's contender Epcharis by a head to win last year's UAE Derby. He opened his 2018 campaign with a dull runner-up effort in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1, when Heavy Metal beat him by 4 ½ lengths. Thunder Snow turned the form around as they stepped up to 9.5 furlongs in the second round of the Maktoum series, battling home for a neck verdict over North America, with Heavy Metal 4 lengths further back in third, and this Godolphin runner is back on track but will he be good enough against the likes of West Coast and Forever Unbridled? Thunder Snow has course experience and we have seen what Godolphin can do in this race over the years but he would have to be another big-day-improver to win the 2018 Dubai World Cup.
GUNNEVERA has performed to Globeform 116 a couple of times in his career and he earned good money for finishing fourth behind Gun Runner in the Breeders' Cup Classic and third in the Pegasus World Cup but he is not a proper G1 performer. Beaten 6 ¼ lengths in the BC Classic and 13 ½ lengths behind the winner in the Pegasus, he ran a better race in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga, where he checked in second, 3 ¼ lengths behind West Coast. Stamina often comes into play in route races at Saratoga and Gunnevera stayed on from off the pace which is his style. A fast early pace would give him a chance of doing so again at Meydan, though it's hard to see him troubling the principals, whatever the pace scenario is. MUBTAAHIJ, who was runner-up to California Chrome in the 2016 edition of the Dubai World Cup, is capable of GF 116 but his best run last year was worth no more than GF 114; a winning performance in the (sub-standard) Awesome Again Stakes over 9 furlongs at Santa Anita in October. Mubtaahij raced with blinkers and he came home 1 ½ lengths in front of the non-staying Midnight Storm, who just held on by a head for second against Win the Space. The Breeders' Cup Classic followed next for Mubtaahij, but he failed to fire at Del Mar and finished eighth, 19 lengths behind Gun Runner (Win the Space was way back in last). PAVEL came late onto the scene in the US as a three-year-old, and he ran his best race beating Talk Logistics by 6 lengths in the Smarty Jones Stakes at Parx. On paper, he looks like a potential improver at four, but Pavel is rather a lightly made sort and perhaps not the type to progress much as an older horse. He needs to improve to mix it with the bet in this field. He was unlucky in his last start, but his three most recent races have been well below what will be required to make an impact in a Dubai World Cup. GLOBEFORM SELECTIONS A: 9 WEST COAST B: 6 FOREVER UNBRIDLED C: 7 TALISMANIC
from GLOBEFORM'SFLORIDADERBYDAYSPECIAL GULFSTREAM PARK 31 MARCH 2018 GLOBEFORM RATINGS FLORIDA DERBY (G1) 9 furlongs dirt / Gulfstream Park / 31 Mar 2018 Runners presented with best Globeform ratings, sires, trainers / riders and GF ratings achieved last three starts (left to right). Globeform ratings are expressed in pounds. 1 length = 2lbs over this distance. 115p 114p 113p 111p 104p 103p 101P 88 85 STRIKE POWER (Speightstown) PROMISES FULFILLED (Shackleford) AUDIBLE (Into Mischief) CATHOLIC BOY (More Than Ready) STORM RUNNER (Get Stormy) MISSISSIPPI (Pioneerof the Nile) HOFBURG (Tapit) TIP SHEET (Brethren) MILLIONAIRE RUNNER (Warrior's Reward) 2017 M Hennig D Romans T Pletcher J Thomas D Romans M Casse B Mott S Gold J Mejia L Saez R Albarado J Velazquez I Ortiz Jr. T Gaffalione J Leparoux J Ortiz E Zayas J Batista?p 108p 115p?p 104p 114p 96p 105p 113p 107 111p 110+ 83 104p 0 99p 101p 103p 81p 101P 88 0 86? - 0 85 ALWAYS DREAMING / Globeform 115p Todd Pletcher / John Velazquez COPYRIGHT 2018, G W Stabell / / ALL RIGHTS RESERVED This material may not be published, broadcast, electronically stored, rewritten or redistributed.