This week I am in Dubai for the running of The Shindig Sprint (Grade III, $200,000, 6 furlongs on the fast dirt for all horses 3 year old and up). It is my first visit to this amazing city; the architecture has to be seen to be believed. I have brought my wife with me and I will need to confiscate her credit cards or I could return to Sydney a very poor man.<\/p>\n
I am glad I have come in January as this is the coolest month in Dubai with an average maximum Temperature of 24\u00b0C, interesting enough it also has a mean of 5.5 days with rainfall but we have fine conditions for today\u2019s racing.<\/p>\n
On to the 10 participants in this exciting race:<\/p>\n
PP#1 FERNANDO HERO(KY) ( Dehere x Seeking The Gold x Danehill) trained by Fernando with jockey G Harmon on board. Odds: 5\/1.<\/p>\n
5 Year old horse with 29 starts for a record of 9-6-3 for $306,280 in prize money. Last 5 races have been at stakes level resulting in 3 wins and 2 placing\u2019s. Has a highest SP # of 110 over 5.5 furlongs on the dirt. Has never won at Graded level but was placed at this level as a 2 year old. Usually races at the front. Has strong recent from and I expect him to be right in the finish.<\/p>\n
PP#2 CESTRINUS(AUS) ( Helenus (AUS) x Fappiano x Reviewer) trained by Chifley with jockey A Cross on board. Odds: 11\/1.<\/p>\n
Another 5 year old horse. From 22 starts has a record of 4-3-4 with $142,887 in prize money. First start in Graded company and is second last in the betting. Last 2 starts have placed at stakes level. Has a highest SP# of 107 furlongs in the dirt. I remember watching the sire Helenus in real life, his record was 18 starts for 5-2-1 and won 3 major grade 1 races as a 3 year old ( Victoria derby, Rosehill Guineas and Caulfield Guineas). Is another front runner. Stepping up in class and could surprise but wont have my money. <\/p>\n
PP#3 CAT N D HOUSE(KY) ( Bluegrass Cat x Seeking The Gold x Housebuster) trained by Mirasol with jockey S L Ledwith on board. Odds: 5\/1<\/p>\n
Lightly race 5 year old horse with only 14 starts for a record of 7-2-3 with $341,315 in prize money. One of the best credentialed runners in the filed having been placed at both Grade I and Grade III level. Has a highest SP# of 118 over 7 furlongs on the dirt. His sire Bluegrass Cat has produced many fine horses in the sim in recent years. Was a bit disappointing last start but if recaptures previous from looks the horse to beat.<\/p>\n
PP#4 AMARANTHINE(KY) ( Dehere x Mr. Prospector x Northern Dancer) trained by Simart with jockey H Harzheim on board. Odds: 6\/1<\/p>\n
4 year old horse with 16 starts for a record of 5-5-2 with $241,384 in prize money. Has a highest SP# of 110 over 6.5 furlongs in the dirt. This horse is well bred and has previously been placed at Grade II level. Versatile horse that can either be a front runner or come charging home from the back of the field. Steeping back in class from his previous start and will be right up there at the winning post.<\/p>\n
PP#5 PULPIT’S PRINCE(KY) ( Pulpit x Storm Boot x Kris S.) trained by Tmaria with jockey VByrd on board. Odds: 9\/1<\/p>\n
6 year old horse with 43 starts for a record of 13-7-5 with $461,807 in prize money. Horse that has won the most prize money out of today\u2019s runners. One of the older horses in the field this horse has raced in a number of big races over his career. Has a highest SP# of 114 over 6 furlongs on the dirt. Has won 2 of his previous 3 starts in weaker company and is steeping up in class from his recent runs. On recent form is hard tip but if at his best could surprise.<\/p>\n
PP#6 SULTAN(KY) ( Grand Slam x Wild Again x Nashua) trained by Ovidius with jockey M Kidder on board. Odds: 9\/1<\/p>\n
4 year old horse with 18 starts for a record of 8-1-2 for $413,580 in prize money. Has a highest SP# of 107 over 6 furlongs on the dirt. Won last start at stakes level and is another horse that runs best as a front runner. Has the ability to win this race but is against some strong opposition. Not in my betting plans today.<\/p>\n
PP#7 KEPLER MONARCHOS(KY) ( Monarchos x Nureyev x Mr. Prospector) trained by Ell2020 with jockey G Ayso on board. Odds: 9\/2<\/p>\n
5 year old horse whose record from 30 previous starts is 6-8-4 with $268,903 in prize money. Another having his first start at graded level in this race. Has a highest SP# of 110 over 6.5 furlongs on the dirt. Has strong recent form with last 4 races have been at stakes level for 1 win and 3 places. Sire is a former Kentucky and Florida Derby winner who has become less popular in the sim in recent years. On recent from should be in the placing\u2019s.<\/p>\n
PP#8 FOIL THE OIL(IRE) ( Chineur (FR) x Montjeu (IRE) x Storm Boot) trained by Sheeba with jockey J Montana on board. Odds: 7\/1<\/p>\n
5 year old horse having 32 starts with a record of 8-5-6 with $259,873 in prize money. Was always in front in last start win at stakes level. Has a highest SP# of 109 over 6,5 furlongs on the dirt. At one stage of his career he was racing in claiming races but was never claimed and is now having first start at graded company. Sire is underused (maybe underrated) in the sim and in real life was on of the leading first year sires of 2009 with his first crop of 2 year olds producing 12 individual winners for 17 race wins. Recent from is good and has every chance in this race.<\/p>\n
PP#9 GHOST BLADE(ITY) ( Danzig Connection x Silver Ghost x Sword Dance (IRE) ) trained by Avalanche with jockey C Kato on board. Odds: 15\/1.<\/p>\n
6 year old horse with 41 previous starts for a record of 7-6-6 for $225,697, Is the outsider in the betting in this race. Has a highest SP# of 110 over 7 furlongs. Placed at Grade I level as a 3 year old. Has won 2 of his last 3 starts but has been in much weaker company. Just can\u2019t see him winning today unless he re-finds his form from about 2008. Another that won\u2019t have my money today.<\/p>\n
PP#10 WEE SILVER(KY) ( Silver Deputy x Dubai Millennium (GB) x Damascus ) trained by Anniebarn with jockey O Cassell on board. Odds: 9\/2<\/p>\n
5 year old horse whose record after 25 previous starts is 10-5-3 for $358,775 in prize money. Has a highest SP# of 113 over 7 furlongs on the dirt. Has been placed at Grade III level previously. Recent from has been strong and this horse has won 5 stakes races during his career. Might be a lucky omen having Dubai Millennium (GB) as part of breeding considering the race is in Dubai. Looks the one to beat. <\/p>\n
However wins today\u2019s sprint race will have their first Graded win. I expect a close finish from this field. My tips for the race where I really need to win some money to pay off the credit card bills my wife has racked up on this his great trip to Dubai:<\/p>\n
1. CAT N D HOUSE(KY)<\/p>\n
2. KEPLER MONARCHOS (KY)<\/p>\n
3. WEE SILVER (KY)<\/p>\n
Best of luck to all the connections in today\u2019s race and hope you have all enjoyed you stay in Dubai as much as I have.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Ten to sprint in Desert<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":338,"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-7689","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-previews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7689","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\/338"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7689"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7689\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7689"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7689"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7689"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}