There is a huge card in the desert on Saturday, the highlight of which is the Dubai World Cup. You can read a full preview of the big race on the card by clicking here, however it isn’t all about that race in terms of betting potential.
There is a really good undercard at the Meydan track on Saturday and after scouring the card we like one in the sprint much earlier in the afternoon to hopefully compliment what has been a fine start to the flat season.
1.30 Meydan: Al Quoz Sprint
Preview
On the turf for the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint over the straight 6 furlongs & this is a race that revolves around Godolphin & Charlie Hills, the yards responsible for 5 of the front 6 in the market. In fact, the only horse bidding to break the Appleby, Bin Suroor, Hills domination is Cowan who comes here after finishing 2nd on his last 5 starts, including the Saudi Derby over a mile last time out.
The favourite, and bidding to give Charlie Appleby his 3rd consecutive win in the race is Space Blues & his chances are hard to knock. He’s won his last 5 starts but the one negative is he seems better over an extra furlong & he disappointed on his only start over course & distance. Charlie Hills relies on Khaadem & Equilateral and both have claims. The former was 4th in a pair of Group 1s on his only 2 starts last term but this is first start since July & he’s never raced outside of the UK. Equilateral, on the other hand, loves it here with a course record of 1-2-1-1 but all of those runs were over the minimum trip of 5 furlongs & he’ll do well to hold off some specialists over this trip inside the final furlong.
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Betting
Final Song won a Group 3 last time out for Bin Suroor & should go well in her bid to follow up but it’s the horse that was over 7 lengths back in 6th, Royal Crusade, that interests us here. The selection is lightly raced, having won twice & finished 2nd twice in just 6 career starts & there’s reason to believe better is just around the corner. As a 2 year old, he was 2nd in a pair of Group races before finishing 6th behind Golden Horde in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot on reappearance last term, looking in need of the run on ground a little too soft.
That promise was realised next time out when winning a Group 3 at Deauville & that form stacks up as well as anything in this field as the runner up, Glen Shiel, went on to finish runner-up in the Group 1 Sprint Cup before landing the spoils in another top race, the Group 1 Champion Stakes. That form was enough to see him sent off a solid 6/4 favourite here on Super Saturday 3 weeks ago but things didn’t go to plan. He dwelt from the gate, travelled into it ok but perhaps allowed others to get first run & then his run flattened up, again looking in need of the run. His trainer has already said he will strip much fitter for this & shouldn’t be dismissed so, at the price, cannot be left unbacked.
Tips
Back Royal Crusade (e/w) for a 0.75/10 stake at 17.00 Bet365 (⅕ odds 1-4)
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