<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Grade I \/ Group 1*CPU – Purse : $3,000,000<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Restricted to 4 Year Olds and Older <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 12 Furlongs | ~2400 Meters | One Mile and a Half<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Saturday, March 30, 2024 — 2:50:00 PM EST | Race ID : 3231022 | Dubai (UAE) \u2013 Turf (expected going: Firm)<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s a bit warm for a British reporter. Who am I kidding? It\u2019s glorious sunshine and the trackside thermometer reads a perfect 29 degrees C\/84 degrees F and the stage is set for one of the hottest fields of the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n People often ask me how \u2018realistic\u2019 the game is and here is an example of one of the variations. In \u2018real life\u2019, most of these would have been retired to the breeding sheds well before they reached the ripe old age of 5. The total earnings of these 14 horses amounts to over $40 million and they would command stud fees that would make your eyes water! Luckily, our pixel ponies get to race to their potential for as long as they can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Without further ado, let\u2019s get to the runners and riders:<\/p>\n\n\n\n (The form column shows the last 6 finishing positions with the most recent being the last number. A zero means a finish outside the top 4 and a dash and front slash mean last season and the season before respectively).<\/p>\n\n\n\n This race is a minefield for punters and I recommend that you stay well away from my tips but here they are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n I would love to see Balon D\u2019Or win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I actually think Texileo will win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If I were forced to play the market, I\u2019d put those two on top and put all the 20\/1 and above shots underneath in exotics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Good luck to all the trainers and their horses.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Grade I \/ Group 1*CPU – Purse : $3,000,000 Restricted to 4 Year Olds and Older 12 Furlongs | ~2400<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":158852,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-66370","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-previews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66370","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/158852"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=66370"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66370\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":66374,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66370\/revisions\/66374"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=66370"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=66370"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=66370"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Gate<\/td> Form<\/td> Horse<\/td> Owner<\/td> Jockey<\/td> Odds<\/td> Pedigree<\/td><\/tr> 1<\/td> 11021-1<\/td> Heart\u2019s Rage<\/td> given2ndchances<\/td> Q Cassell<\/td> 8\/1<\/td> HEART’S CRY
x GALILEO
x A.P. INDY<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Leading them into the parade ring is 5yo gelding, Heart\u2019s Rage, winner of no less than 4 races at Group 1 level and looking to edge closer to a spot in the Hall of Fame. He\u2019s on fire at the moment and seeking a third consecutive Group 1 win, having taken the San Francisco Capitan Handicap and The Los Angeles Turf Cup on his last couple of outings. Expect him to be just behind the front runners and picking them off as they come around the final turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n2<\/td> 12110-4<\/td> Good Beer<\/td> beerkeg19<\/td> J Hornibrook<\/td> 20\/1<\/td> DUBAWI
x SADLER\u2019S WELLS
x GALILEO<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Had the rains arrived, Good Beer would have been half the odds. This regally bred 4yo gelding finally showed his talent half way through last year when sent over longer trips. He cracked 3 figures in one of the legendary beerkeg Canadian Allowances (often a make or break for the trainer\u2019s charges!) and that was good enough to see him move back into Stakes class where the 10 furlongs didn\u2019t seem far enough. Another step up in trip to the mile and a half looked to do the trick in a small but talented Stakes race. Into the big time and a stunning win in The Vicky Derby hitting a massive 120 speed figure over the 12.5f trip and on ground that had eased to Good\u2026and he\u2019s still only 3 years old at this point! The stage was set for a showdown with the creme de la creme in the Japan Classic against the older horses but he didn\u2019t seem to know his lines and despite a late effort to catch them, he finished mid pack. His first race as a 4yo had a similar feel to it and even though he got a bit closer, Good Beer looked like he\u2019d benefit from another couple of furlongs. Maybe we\u2019ll see him over the marathon distances in future\u2026unless he springs a bit of a surprise here (and I\u2019m not discounting any of these)!<\/p>\n\n\n\n3<\/td> 13240-4<\/td> Flower Shops<\/td> beerkeg6<\/td> R Hansen<\/td> 34\/1<\/td> SEA THE STARS
X DANEHILL
x FRANKEL<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Always have a backup plan! It might not rain. Trainer beerkeg has it covered and sends his 4yo gelding, Flower Shops, out from the #3 stall. It\u2019s almost exactly a year since his last win (a dominant victory in the Sydney Derby) but he\u2019s usually there or thereabouts at the sharp end of his Group 1 races. He comes off the back of a wide-margin defeat last time but he ran his best speed number to date. If he is still improving, the handicapper might regret the long odds – don\u2019t leave him off the exotics at the betting window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n4<\/td> 22110-0<\/td> Combined Effort<\/td> tarton22<\/td> M Kiprusoff<\/td> 8\/1<\/td> GALILEO
x KINGMAMBO
X NIJINSKY 2ND<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Winner of the Ark De ComicDog in October of last year, this 5yo \u2018entire\u2019 looked to have the world at his feet as he just got up in a very tight finish, beating 19 of the very best horses in the game over 12 furlongs. His last couple of races, though, have been a bit of an anticlimax; the Japan Classic wasn\u2019t quite up to his very high standards but also was no disgrace. However, jockey M Kiprusoff might have got it all wrong in the first race of this campaign as he ran far too close to the pace in the John Scott Appreciation Stakes – there were plenty that wanted that leading berth on the day and Combined Effort paid the price, fading to finish 9th. Trainer tarton22 keeps faith with the jockey but I hope he gave him a good talking to and that we\u2019ll see a return to true form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n5<\/td> 01201-1<\/td> Leaked Impact<\/td> harrylan24<\/td> P Syduck<\/td> 8\/1<\/td> DEEP IMPACT
X STREET CRY
x NIJINSKY 2ND<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The \u2018old man\u2019 of the field (or should we call him the distinguished gentleman?) is a 7yo \u2018entire\u2019 who is just happy racing\u2026as long as the grass is green! He was late to the party, only starting his career in November of his 3yo season but has been patiently nurtured by trainer, harrylan24. He went through the conditions (not something you see very often in today\u2019s \u2018throw them into the top ranks early) and proved his prowess in Allowance company before moving up to Stakes races. An ambitious move to G2 wasn\u2019t unwarranted but saw him back into Stakes races and then Group 3. Two years after he made his debut, he won a strongly contested 9 furlong event on easing ground. The step up back to G2 was more promising this time and subsequently was entered at the highest level\u2026where it all went wrong again. Undeterred, harrylan22 reverted to doing what he does best and dropped back to Stakes, albeit a small field. It looked to be a trial to see how far Leaked Impact could go and G2 company once again beckoned. He found one too good over the mile and a half and was dropped back to 9f but that then looked a little short. Two races ago, he found the sweet spot in the Group 1 Euro Classic Final and ended the year with a victory. He retained his winning ways with a comfortable-looking G3 win to start this season and although he is facing some of the very best, I expect he\u2019ll be up to today\u2019s challenge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n6<\/td> 04410-1<\/td> Marechal Davout<\/td> harasauxerre<\/td> K Ledwith<\/td> 10\/1<\/td> INTELLO
x GOLDEN HORN
x DYNAFORMER<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Trainer harasauxerre sends out 5yo horse Marechal Davout following an impressive seasonal debut in the Group 2 The Kyoto Handicap where he disposed of At Death\u2019s Door in good style. The result was a reversal of the previous meeting between the two where the latter finished in fourth in the G1 Japan Classic with this one mid division. Both were well behind the winner, Texileo, that day and there were several of today\u2019s runners dispersed through the field. Prior to that, he recorded a career high 118 in The Europe Classic at Group 1 level. A return to that form will see him closer to the winners circle than to the \u2018also rans\u2019. Jockey K Ledwith takes the ride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n7<\/td> 1314-12<\/td> We Good<\/td> bkeliteflops<\/td> C Mecklenburg<\/td> 34\/1<\/td> SEA THE STARS
x NUREYEV
x GALILEO<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Interestingly, the handicapper doesn\u2019t seem to have learned anything about We Good. In his last race this 4yo gelding finished just a length and change behind Heart\u2019s Rage (odds of 9\/2) in the San Francisco Capitan Handicap at 29\/1. Installed at a massive-looking 34\/1 for today, this one is going to be on plenty of tickets. Previously, We Good had shown a glimpse of his talent in Stakes company but the step up to Group 1 and subsequent run should have the bookies running scared. Another one for the places and another who could throw the cat among the pigeons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n8<\/td> 22103-1<\/td> Balon D\u2019Or<\/td> applefarms7<\/td> J Hernandez<\/td> 5\/1<\/td> KITTEN’S JOY
x REDOUTE’S CHOICE
x MONTJEU<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Possibly one of the best claims in the game, Balon D\u2019Or was entered into a $40000 claiming race almost exactly one year ago following a disappointing Group 2 race and a certain operation performed only on males. He had finished his 3yo season by winning 4 on the trot in allowance company, all with triple digit speed figures. We can only assume the previous owner is a fool (I can say that without disparagement because I was that owner). If trainer applefarms7 ever sees me in a bar, I\u2019ll expect a beer or two. The 5yo has since won 3 G1 races including his first run of this season in the New Zealand Darby, taking the victory in impressive style. I\u2019ll be cheering him on today, hoping he can take one more step towards game immortality so that I can at least say that I was the one who bred this little piece of history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n9<\/td> 241130-<\/td> Weird Impersonator<\/td> foxon2<\/td> F Oxon<\/td> 28\/1<\/td> DUBAWI
x SADLER\u2019S WELLS
x NIJINSKY 2ND<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Next up is the \u2018baby\u2019 of the race. He has just 9 stats to his name but half of his 4 wins have been at Group 1 level. Even though his last couple of efforts have been relatively disappointing, there could have been extenuating factors; two back, the ground might not have been in his favour and the final race of his 3yo season could well have been a couple of furlongs short. Going back a little further, Weird Impersonator provided trainer foxon2 with back to back G1s in The Japanese Derby and The Irish Derby by 4 and 5 lengths, respectively. A repeat of that form and the 28\/1 odds available are going to award the handicapper philanthropist of the year!<\/p>\n\n\n\n10<\/td> 1013-00<\/td> Dissun Dat<\/td> funster2<\/td> B Ironside<\/td> 14\/1<\/td> DISTORTED HUMOR
x MONSUN
x KRIS S.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Trainer funster2 gives jockey B Ironside the leg up on Dissun Dat. This 5yo gelding is looking to get back on track following a couple of \u2018off the board\u2019 outings this year. On form, he looks held by Heart\u2019s Rage but in a field of this quality, literally any one of the field is capable of winning. In the John Scott Appreciation Stakes, he was one of a handful who were still making progress through the field when the finish line arrived. His deep closing style can be a hit and miss tactic; if the jockey gets it wrong, he\u2019ll run out of real estate before catching the rabbits. B Ironside will have to be at the top of his game to give Dissun Dat the chance to defy the 14\/1 odds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n11<\/td> 300321-<\/td> All In A Dream<\/td> flagdown5<\/td> P Jones<\/td> 7\/1<\/td> GALILEO
x DUBAI MILLENNIUM
x CAERLEON<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Can there be any question marks about flagdown5\u2019s multiple G1 winner of more than $6m in prize money? I suspect there aren\u2019t many. He ended last season with a storming 122 speed in dominating The Winter Cup, his 3rd Group 1 victory and seeing off Balon D\u2019Or in the process. And now the question\u2026is today\u2019s 12 furlongs far enough? The Winter Cup is over 13 furlongs and All In A Dream has previously won the Ackland Cup over the maximum trip of 2 miles. His previous couple of outings over today\u2019s trip resulted in a 3rd place in the Ark behind Combined Effort and a runner up finish to Babylon Has Fallen in the Breeders\u2019 Bowl Turf. Make no bones about it, he is pure class and write off his chances at your peril. Jockey P Jones will have been told to sit still and leave him to jog around at the back before turning on the afterburners coming off the final turn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n12<\/td> 120210-<\/td> Babylon Has Fallen<\/td> willyam40<\/td> W Kewmwa<\/td> 8\/1<\/td> SEA THE STARS
X DUBAWI
x GALILEO<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Once again, we try to make sense of the form book in the hope of pinpointing the winner of this prestigious event\u2026and once again, we might as well make paper aeroplanes from $100 bills! After his excellent showing in taking the Breeders\u2019 Bowl Turf, Babylon Has Fallen would have been full of confidence going into The Winter Cup knowing he had put them all to bed but it all went wrong on the day. Regular jockey (and today\u2019s person on board), W Kewmwa, will have had some explaining to do as to why he let them get away from him so early in the race. Did Babylon miss a step coming out of the gate? Whatever the reason, you can be sure trainer willyam40 will be looking to get his champion back to winning ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n13<\/td> 211401-<\/td> Texileo<\/td> texasace<\/td> F Gossett<\/td> 5\/1<\/td> GALILEO
x DYNAFORMER
x NIJINSKY 2ND<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Is there any significance to the booking of F Gossett to ride Texileo? Pretty much all the top jockeys are in Dubai for this wonderful festival of racing including regular rider A Jolly. However, A Jolly does not have a mount in this race. Is this a masterstroke tactic by trainer texasace to keep F Gossett off the other joint favourite, Balon D\u2019Or? And more to the point, looking at the impeccable career of this 6yo \u2018entire\u2019, how much influence will the jockey have in trying to get this 4-time Group 1 winner home in front? He had plenty of this field in behind when winning the Japan Classic last time out and one of the key points coming out of that was the fact that Texileo was ridden just behind the frontrunners. He is well capable of leading pillar to post and if he gets a lead, just try and take it off him\u2026but now, if you get ahead, watch your back!<\/p>\n\n\n\n14<\/td> 23344-2<\/td> At Death\u2019s Door<\/td> peeps4<\/td> B Scott<\/td> 12\/1<\/td> GALILEO
x TAPIT
x STORM CAT<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Trainer peeps4 encourages his 5yo out onto the track to round off the preliminaries. He\u2019s been happy to let all the others head towards the start – they can\u2019t go without him, so what\u2019s the hurry? At Death\u2019s Door has yet to find the winning formula for Group company but he\u2019s knocking on the door of potential opportunity for a few seasons. He does seem to have bad luck in coming up against some very good opponents but if you want to win at the very top level, it won\u2019t happen racing against three-legged donkeys on the beach. Could today be the day? Jockey B Scott will be earning his keep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n