MONSIEUR CADET looks for a repeat victory in the $3M Sand Castle Fee Duty

Dubai (UAE) Saturday, March 26, 2022 — 3:00PM EST | Race ID : 2801129

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SAND CASTLE FEE DUTY

Grade I / Group 1*CPU – Purse : $3,000,000 – 4 Year Olds and Older
8.5 Furlongs | ~1700 Meters | One Mile and One Sixteenths | Firm Turf
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From Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) we bring you the Sand Castle Fee Duty. A middle distance event, the Fee Duty will be run at 8.5 furlongs (or ~1700 meters for the locals) over the mile turf oval, which should be rated firm as weekend rain possibilities have evaporated in the desert sun. A stellar field of fourteen prior graded stakes winners (eight G1 champs, six G2 winners & eight million dollar earners ) will be going to the post to compete for the winner’s share of the lucrative $3 million purse, and to star in the festive trophy presentation ceremony following the race. Defending champ, 2021 winner MONSIEUR CADET looks to defend his crown, facing thirteen new opponents. The handicapper sees MONSIEUR CADET’s chances at 8/1; he prefers JUSTIWELLS at 5/1, AWESOME GIANTS and DRUZZIL RO at 6/1, and ELASTOS at 7/1 on the morning line.
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Some Dubai wiki trivia: “Meydan opened on 27 March 2010, replacing Nad Al Sheba Racecourse, which formerly occupied the same site. It includes a horse racing museum, gallery and five-star hotel and nine-hole golf course. The grandstand is over a mile in length, and can accommodate over 60,000 spectators. When not in use for racing it serves as a business and conference centre. The track’s interior was also used as a filming location for the film Star Trek Beyond depicting the docking bay where the U.S.S. Enterprise is moored including the bar scene during the film’s climax which contains a ship construction bay.”
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As for the race, it appears that tossing a lucky dart would have a better chance than most past performance research at divining the winner in this heat. Let’s take a closer look at what they’ve done and what they may do, and peruse the PP’s for that elusive clue. And we’ll even take a stab at some betting choices in a highly competitive field.
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1
AWESOME GIANTS………….KY………….5G…………..beerkeg1
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Heading up the star studded post parade is this gleaming chestnut five year old gelding, who tired to 8th from the second flight in his 2022 debut in the G1 The Road Kill Mile, getting a 112 SP# while ending a three race win streak. Awesome Again athlete, out of the sim mare Wire The Field (by Giant’s Causeway x A.P. Indy) was victorious in the G1 Breeders’ Bowl Mile in his previous start, gnashing a 120 SP# from the middle of the pack in his third straight graded stakes score. One before that he took down the G1 The Queen Liz Stakes, also at a mile, garnering a 118 SP# with a powerful stretch run to get the money. Runner from the beerkeg1 racing operation probably needed his last off a fifteen week vacation; fitter for this event, the extra sixteenth distance should be to his liking; the handicapper likes his chances as the co-second choice on the tote board.
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2
BAD MAN’S HALLOWS………ENG…………4G…………glenumbra
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Scratch bred Ulysses usurper (by Deputy Minister x Seeking The Gold) seeks his fifth straight victory off a blow out win in the G1 The Kegasus Upper Deck Turf Extravaganza at 9.5 furlongs, easily wiring the field after opening up a wide lead, nailing a 116 SP# at 16/1 odds. One before that this blissful bay four year old gelding smoked a similar field in the Half Summer listed stakes, also at 9.5 panels, notching a 117 SP# leading every step of the way at 25/1 at the betting windows. His prior outing was a front running win in the Door Crack listed stakes at a mile and an eighth, nabbing a 107 SP# over a “good”surface. Glenumbra protege is unbeaten since his “reproductive alteration”, started his career winning two of his first three races at a mile at this venue. Speedball will certainly be one of the early pace combatants and shortens up in distance with a favorable post position; the handicapper once again dismisses his chances at 19/1 odds.
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3
SANCHO BOW………………..AUS…………4M…………deyoto10
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Deep closer from the deyoto10 racing group unleashed a ground gobbling stretch run to get 6th in the G1 The Road Kill Mile in his latest effort, sizzling a 116 SP# while beaten only 3 lengths for all the money. No Nay Never nibbler, out of the stakes winning sim mare Hataka Rose (by Deep Impact x Exceed And Excel) flew home for 3rd in his 2022 season opener in a restricted allowance race at 9 furlongs, sticking a 109 SP# after making up 11 lengths from the 3rd call to the wire. He finished off 2021 with a disappointing 13th of 14 in the G1 The Parking Ticket at this distance, stuffing a 100 SP# while never involved at any point in the race. Last out effort was encouraging for his four year old campaign; distance suits, should be one of the blurs moving from the back of the pack turning for home. Handicapper doesn’t see it that way assigning 21/1 odds on this fellow.
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4
KING OF PAYNE…………….JPN………… 5G………….texasace
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Bucking bay five year old gelding tuned up for this event with a so-so 5th in the G2 The Jabba The Hut at 9 furlongs over this oval, catching a 105 SP# while never gaining on the leaders. In his previous engagement he stormed down the straight to get 2nd in the G1 King Kong Mile, crushing a 117 SP# in his 2021 finale. Scratch bred King Kamehameha killer (by Montjeu x Danzig) showed some mild late interest when 12th one before that in the G1 Breeders’ Bowl Mile, casting a 106 SP# facing a number of the same foes from that race in this heat. Runner from the texasace racing stable will get a rapid pace to run at, and the race over the track should have him ready for a top effort; deep closer will need a shrewd jockey ride to be in contention as they come down to the finish.
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5
ELASTOS………… ……………..ENG………..5M…………adrian6
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New Approach nipper, out of the graded placed, stakes winning sim mare Of Kamloops (by Giant’s Causeway x A.P. Indy) came up a length short when 5th in the G2 Gas Station Mile in his 2022 opener, drilling a 115 SP# after a furious late stretch run. Imposing chestnut five year old horse finished off 2021 with an impressive victory in the G@ Church Mound Stakes at a mile, dropping a 121 SP# after a powerful late run trip. One back of that he was an even 5th all the way around the track in the G2 The Dane Wild, also at 8 furlongs, drawing a 110 SP# after a disappointing effort as the favorite. Runner from the adrian6 racing barn gets a little more distance in this event, should be one of a number of deep closers looking for room at the top of the straight; handicapper rates him as a good shot at 7/1 on the betting line.
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6
NEON GALAXY…………………GER………..4M…………austintigers
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Hailing from the austintigers racing stable is this burly bay four year old colt, who was a fast closing 2nd last time over in the G2 The A Tahiti Fort at a mile over this oval, whacking a 118 SP# after a mid pack effort. Adlerflug actor, out of the G2 winning, million dollar earning sim mare Golden Sands N (by Danehill Dancer x Giant’s Causeway) won the Smoking Sal listed stakes at 8 furlongs in his previous outing, wrangling a 119 SP# with a well timed move on the far turn. He either threw a clunker or was simply outclassed one back of that when he was 10th in the G1 New Zealand 2000 Dark Beers, also at a mile, working out a 106 SP#. A repeat effort from his latest try would put him in the thick of things turning for home in his 2nd start as a four year old.
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7
OUTBACK DACOIT……………..KY………… 5G…………yozgeld03
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Scratch bred, stretch running Distorted Humor dude (by Unbridled’s Song x Seattle Slew) looks for his fourth straight win after he rallied from way back in the pack to get the money in the G2 Gas Station Mile in his 2022 debut, scalding a 116 SP# and benefiting from a great jockey ride. Five year old light grey gelding took the Go West Sal listed stakes, also at 8 furlongs, one before that, scorching a 121 SP# with a devastating stretch turn of foot. He started his win streak with a score in a restricted allowance, again at a mile, stabbing a 110 SP# with a last to first trip. Runner from the yozgeld3 barn of the vyz racing group is another of the many late running entrants going to the post, could be one of the ones that get in the picture ar the finish. Handicapper gives him a decent chance at 9/1 on the tote.
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DRUZZIL RO…………………… .IRE………… 5M………..champions9
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Shooting for a third straight win is this bucking bay five year old horse, who took down the G2 The Nakayama Handicap at a mile and an eighth in his 2022 campaign opener, zapping a 120 SP# with a mid pack trip. Scratch bred Shamardal shuffler (by Danehill x Roberto) won the Questing Gulch listed stakes, also at 9 furlongs, zinging a 117 SP# with a concerted stretch run. In his prior start he showed some late interest to get 4th in the G2 The Main Oak, again at 9 panels, zipping a 110 SP# in a middle of the pack trip. Runner from the champions9 barn of the stoners stables should be a bit closer to the pace than the group of deep closers he faces here, could get the jump on them turning for home. Handicapper likes his chances as the co-second choice at the betting windows.
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9
LIMITED PARTNER……………..ENG……….4M…………iamswan
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Speedster backed up to 4th behind DRUZZIL RO in the G2 The Nakayama Handicap at 9 furlongs in his initial four year old outing, flinging a 111 SP# while making all the early pace numbers. Boisterous bay four year old colt faltered to 9th in the G1 King Kong Cup at a mile and a quarter in his 2021 finale, flipping a 109 SP# after leading through the early stages. Dubawi duster, based on the G3 winning sim he-mare Silent Investor (by Galileo x Dynaformer) wired the G2 The Usain Bolt at 9 panels one before that, flashing a 118 SP# making every step a winning one. Liamswan trainee faces solid early challengers but shortens up a bit in this event; may have needed last after a freshening. eligible to get to the front and stay there. Handicapper doesn’t see it that way, pegging him at 23/1 odds.
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10
BREAK AWAY DUNK………..ENG………..4M………….dochman
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Frankel fella, out of the G2 winning, million dollar earning sim mare Walks Away (by Street Cry x Danzig) returned to the races running with an impressive triumph in the G1 The Road Kill Mile, pounding a 120 SP# from the second flight, and defeating many of his foes here. Brutish bay four year old colt just missed catching AWESOME GIANTS in the G1 Breeders’ Bowl Mile in their 2021 season finales, plastering a 119 SP# with a similar trip that he returned with. One back of that he was no factor when 10th in the G2 Cherry Limb Stakes at a mile and an eighth, posting a 108 SP#, possibly bouncing off big effort in prior try. Owner/trainer dochman would seem to have favorable conditions to replicate last out win – fast pace to chase and beat the deep closers to the punch; handicapper not giving much love as an 11/1 chance.
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11
PIETER BREUGEL………………..KY…………4M…………woette2
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Romping roan four year old colt was soundly defeated in the G1 The Road Kill Mile behind others also in this event, etching a 100 SP# after showing a little early interest. One before that he was last of fourteen in the G3 The Road Rash at nine furlongs, eking out a 99 SP# watching them all finish in front of him. Tiznow toughie, out of the sim mare General Strike (by Smart Strike x Danzig) was a swift closing 3rd in the G1 Mike Beal Memorial at a mile in his previous start, earning a 112 SP# moving from 16th of 19 in the early stages. Woette2 runner looks out classed here; would take a huge improvement to factor here. The handicapper seems to agree with a longest shot in the race 33/1 odds.
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12
MONSIEUR CADET…………..ENG…………6M…………24flat
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Defending champ finished off his 2021 campaign with a pair of G1 defeats, failing in The Parking Ticket at this route and the Breeders’ Bowl Mile with 108 & 109 SP#’s. Pivotal poser, out of the G1 winning, million dollar earning sim mare Unchained Cadet (by Smart Strike x Montjeu) went coast to coast to win the G2 Rennen Mile one before those, clobbering a 120 SP# after surviving an early pace duel. Never an easy task to take the same graded race multiple times, but this bustling bay six year old horse has a few things going for him – early speed and an affinity for this venue – he’s undefeated in four outings over this oval. Sentimental choice of the punters rates at 8/1 on the morning line for this cadet trainee or so says the handicapper.
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13
COLLECTORS……………………KY………… 4M………….corky
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Bruising bay four year old colt was over matched last out in the G1 The Road Kill Mile against many of the same foes he’s facing here, pegging a 105 SP#. One before that he was a gaining 2nd in the G2 Gas Station Mile, pasting a 115 SP# from the middle of the pack. Collected cat, out of the graded placed stakes winner See Jay Tee (by Crafty Prospector x Rubiano) was last of fourteen in the G1 King Kong Mile, pushing a 102 SP# to finish his season. Runner from the corky barn of the corza racing group has not fared well in his only G1 appearances, and will need to improve 10 lengths to be in the picture at the finish line. Tough task says the handicapper at 20/1 on the board.
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JUSTIWELLS…………………..KY…………. 5M………….swanseared
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Fleet footed, scratch bred Justify jogger (by Sadler’s Wells x Fappiano) tuned up for this spot with a blow out victory in the G3 The City Of Gold at this trip over this strip, smashing a 118 SP# after opening a day light lead and coasting home. Boisterous bay five year old horse got his 2022 season off on the right foot, wiring an open allowance at this route, smacking a 117 SP# shrugging off an early pace prompting. He made all the pace in the G1 Breeders’ Bowl Mile but got caught late and had to settle for 5th, sticking a 117 SP#. Bristolred stables protege from the swanseared barn is another lead seeker from far outside post; will be used early to vie for the lead; SP#’s compare favorably with the strongest contending entries, handicapper showing him a lot of love as the 5/1 first choice at the betting windows.
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A great mix of running styles has been assembled here. We’ve got the repeat quest of MONSIUER CADET; he faces other like minded types so an early pace battle looks likely. The lurkers will be trying to get an edge over the deep closers who are hoping for a suicidal pace scenario to play in their favor. With that in mind, we’ll take a few guesses and try to get lucky.

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SELECTIONS:
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BREAK AWAY DUNK
DRUZZIL RO
OUTBACK DACOIT
Longshot: NEON GALAXY
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Good luck everybody, and may they all come home safe and sound.