The Carnival!

[Hickory Hill Hoff]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

Form comments, from our friends at the ERA.....

Maktoum Challenge R2


ETIHAAD (GB) 2002 b h Dubai Millennium - Elfaslah (Green Desert) 3 starts 1-0-0 A half-brother to a Dubai World Cup winner in Almutawakel and by a Dubai World Cup winner in Dubai Millennium who impressed when making his UAE debut before another good effort when stepping up to this grade when fourth to Happy Boy in the opening round. Followed up a week later but disappointed when seventh in handicap company on the turf. Back to dirt here and if he can reproduce his opening round effort he has sound claims.

SAHARA SPHINX (USA) 2003 ch h Giant’s Causeway - Sculpture (Deputy Minister) 8 starts 2-1-0 Won first two starts of this season in lower grades but disappointed since. Fair effort last start when fifth in Jebel Ali Mile last Friday but this is harder and needs to improve.

RAMPALLION (GB) 2003 b g Daylami – Minute Waltz (Sadler’s Wells) 7 starts 3-1-0 Impressed on first start for new trainer and first run on this surface last start when winning over this course and distance in handicap company. Came from well back there and suited by fast pace on that occasion but has shown ability in the past and can handle rise in grade here.

DELUDE (IRE) 1998 ch g Be My Guest – Deceive (Machiavellian) 56 starts 9-8-7 Veteran campaigner who returned to winner’s list for first time since November 2006 last start when easily accounting for Alo Pura in handicap company. Stepping up group company here and others appear to have better claims.

QUORUM (GER) 2003 b h Acatenango – Quest Of Fire (Rainbow Quest) 11 starts 3-2-0 Impressed on his first season of racing in 2006/2007. Best of three runs this season was two starts back when second at Abu Dhabi. Disappointed last start in handicap company last Thursday and stepping up in grade here.

IMPERIAL STAR (IRE) 2003 br h Fantastic Light – Out West (Gone West) 10 starts 3-1-2 Having first run for new stable here and form when last in work was quite good. Hasn’t started since his fourth in Group 3 company on all-weather at Kempton in early September. Winner in Listed company and all three wins over 2,000m. Has solid form on all-weather in England and stays under notice here.

LUCKY FIND (SAF) 2003 ch g Rich Man’s Gold – Little Erna (Ernani) 10 starts 5-4-0 Quality South African performer whose final run there was second in the Group 1 Daily News. On first run in Dubai and first on the dirt he could not have been more impressive recording an easy victory over the above average Third Set over this course and distance. Bound to be fitter for that and although this is harder and he received all the breaks last start he appears a horse of the highest order and will be hard to beat in this.

WEST VIRGINIA (USA) 2001 dk b/br h Tomorrows Cat – Wild and Wonderful (Kennedy Road) 27 starts 7-6-5 Ex American-trained horse with good form in Graded company there including placings at Grade 1 level. Not raced since October 2006 and fitness the query here.

EU TAMBEM (pictured) (BRZ) 2003 b h Wild Event – Charmosa (Fain) 9 starts 7-1-0 Argentine Derby winner in 2006 and then could not have been more impressive when coming to Dubai and on debut at last year’s Carnival beat the older horses in the third round of the Al Maktoum Challenge. Returned to own age at only other run but disappointed when well back behind Asiatic Boy in the UAE Derby. Could obviously be hard to beat here.

JACK SULLIVAN (USA) 2001 ch g Belong To Me – Provisions (Devil’s Bag) 33 starts 7-6-3 Outstanding performer on this course winning this race twice in 2005 and 2006. Was also successful in the Burj Nahaar in 2006 and fourth in 2005 Dubai World Cup. Finished well back in Japan Cup Dirt three starts back but subsequent appearances in England were good. Disappointed on first run back here when caught wide from a high draw and tired in final stages when 13th of 16 in opening round. Better suited by smaller field here and extra furlong but place claims appear best.

BOSCOBEL (GB) 2004 ch c Halling – Dunnes River (Danzig) 8 starts 5-1-0 Quality three-year-old of last season making debut for new trainer here and having first run on dirt. Led throughout to win King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot before his fourth in Irish Derby behind Soldier Of Fortune. Only run since then disappointed and obviously something amiss when distant last behind Lucarno in the Great Voltigeur in August. Had won up to 2,400m but this trip is average winning distance. Has the speed to overcome wide draw here and should be able to position nicely in race. Choice of stable jockey. Must be considered.

KANDIDATE (GB) 2002 b h Kabool – Valleyrose (Royal Academy) 41 starts 8-1-6 Scored surprise all-the-way win in this race last year before his sixth in Dubai World Cup. Failed to win in six starts since then in England, Singapore and Japan but form has been far from disappointing, excusing his latest run in Japan Cup Dirt. Has always shown best form in Dubai and has proven that this track suits and again must be respected.

Wondered where this NY bred went, very interesting he wound up here!

Looks like a great card on Thursday morning (my time!)

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by Hickory Hill Hoff

Wondered where this NY bred went, very interesting he wound up here!

Looks like a great card on Thursday morning (my time!)

He's been with Satish all this time!

(Needs to update his site)...

http://www.satishseemar.com/news.asp

Ace-ie was there for a while last year.

Happy Runner.... wow, what happened?

[fmc123412]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

He's been with Satish all this time!

(Needs to update his site)...

http://www.satishseemar.com/news.asp

Ace-ie was there for a while last year.

Happy Runner.... wow, what happened?

My opinion?...he is a turf specialist...the incredible thing was his last win...the race was unusual and the field was weak, i think...

My main assumption while posting my picks at the dubai contest on the other thread is: I will NEVER pick up a horse that lost to Objeto de Arte on the dirt...Happy Runner didn't lose...but the win was too difficult for me to consider him a respectable horse on the dirt.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by fmc123412

My opinion?...he is a turf specialist...the incredible thing was his last win...the race was unusual and the field was weak, i think...

My main assumption while posting my picks at the dubai contest on the other thread is: I will NEVER pick up horse that lost to Objeto de Arte on the dirt...Happy Runner didn't lose...but the win was too difficult for me to consider him a respectable horse on the dirt.

Yeah I just won't pick anyone at really short odds.

Good for Instant Recall! Should have been sentimental there instead of letting the pp's change my mind.

UAE 1000 Guineas
12 Olympic Glory W/P

[my miss storm cat]

RP.....

Etched set to make seasonal debut in UAE 2,000 Guineas



by Jason Ford


GODOLPHIN'S Kentucky Derby hope Etched is set to make his seasonal debut on Thursday in a hot-looking contest for the UAE 2,000 Guineas at the Dubai Carnival.

The son of Forestry won both his two-year-old starts for former trainer Kiaran McLaughlin in New York before being shipped to Dubai and joining Saeed Bin Suroor.

Only a 20-1 chance for America's most famous race, Etched is set to face a stern assignment first time out in the 1m dirt race.

His rivals will include the Mike de Kock-trained Honour Devil and Doug Watson's Aquino, first and third in the designated trial three weeks ago.
With only one turf race at Nad Al Sheba on Thursday, a six-race card could well feature less British and Irish interest than usual. However, the Mick Channon-trained Halicarnassus, last seen in the Japan Cup, could make his UAE debut in the 1m2f handicap.

Awwww.....


>> ARGENTINA'S seven-time Grade 1 winner Latency has settled in well in Dubai according to Nestor Chazarreta, the foreman supervising preparations for the World Cup.

Latency has been a regular sight working on the main track at Nad Al Sheba, and a tendency to look around him for the first week was explained by Chazarreta.

“He was looking for his pony,” he said. “He has been ponied throughout his racing career at home but quarantine protocol does not allow us to bring his pony. It took him a few days to realise the pony was not with him, that was all. He has settled down now as you can see.

“Everything is on track,” added Chazarreta. “The third round of the Maktoum Challenge on Super Thursday remains his target, then the World Cup. We are carrying the hopes of a nation and we believe this is the horse to do it. He really is a superstar and knows it.”

[_ed_]

Seachange leaves for Dubai on Sunday, and will run in the Jebel Hatta on March 6 before the Duty Free.

Hope she does us proud.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

Latency has been a regular sight working on the main track at Nad Al Sheba, and a tendency to look around him for the first week was explained by Chazarreta.

“He was looking for his pony,”

Oh sure, the winner can't bring his pony but Curlin can???

Whatever.

Conroy is scratched tomorrow.....