Dubai Sheema Classic (Group 1) S1-5 (9:00 P.M
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1:00 A.M. HK TIME (1.4.2012) Dubai Sheema Classic (Group 1) S1-5 (9:00 P.M. LOCAL TIME) (31.3.12) Meydan Racecourse - Turf Track - 2410 Metres (Left-handed) For SH 3yo+ & NH 4yo+. Weights: SH 3yo 117lb; NH 4yo 125lb; SH 4yo+ & NH 5yo+ 126lb. Allowances: fillies and mares about 4.4lb. Total Prize Money (US$) $5,000,000 1st $3,000,000, 2nd $1,000,000, 3rd $500,000, 4th $250,000, 5th $150,000, 6th $100,000. (10 Starters) Overseas Expert Column by Wally Pyrah The combination of ST NICHOLAS ABBEY and 18-year-old Joseph O’Brien (son of trainer Aidan O’Brien) will attempt to follow up their Breeders’ Cup Turf triumph at Churchill Downs in November. Having finished third in the Group 1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July, and 5th to DANEDREAM in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp, his form credentials give him a serious chance of success in which only a few of the runners have form to win. CIRRUS DES AIGLES was rated the best horse over 2000m in Europe last season. His best form was when beating SO YOU THINK and rivals in an epic Group 1 Champion Stakes at Ascot in October, but he was also successful in the Grand Prix de Deauville (2500m) the La Coupe over 2000m at Longchamp, plus he was runner-up to two world class fillies in GOLDIKOVA and SARAFINA. Despite disappointing when only fifth – denied a clear run at a crucial stage – to CALIFORNIA MEMORY in HK, his preparation has been geared for this race after he failed to act on the polytrack surface in a bid to go for the Dubai World Cup. BEATEN UP is the ‘dark horse’ of the race having won all of his three runs to date. His latest success when demolishing a useful field in the St Simon Stakes at Newbury suggested he is not far behind on ratings and most certainly will improve. Work watchers at Newmarket in UK have been equally impressed by his recent gallops and his final workout on a racecourse, indicates he comes here with plenty of confidence behind him. Globe-trotting TREASURE BEACH comes into this race with an impressive CV having finished runner-up in the Epsom Derby, won the Irish Derby and Secretariat Stakes at Arlington, and third at Woodbine in Canada. His only disappointment was unplaced in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp, but in this relatively small field, if he is allowed to dictate matters from the front he could pose a threat. It’s interesting that five-year-olds have an impressive record in this race having won five of the last seven running’s and were second, third and fourth last year. Bearing those facts in mind, it could pay to follow BOLD SILVANO, SHIMRAAN and selection ST NICHOLAS ABBEY. SELECTIONS: ST NICHOLAS ABBEY, CIRRUS DES AIGLES, BEATEN UP & TREASURE BEACH - 38 - Overseas Expert Column by Ed Marnane French representative CIRRUS DES AIGLES, one of the highest rated horses on the planet, stands out in a race France last won in 2004 with POLISH SUMMER. The six-year-old has no fitness worries, as he made his comeback at Chantilly earlier in the month. The race, on polytrack, had intended to be a trial for the World Cup but he failed to act on the surface, ruling out a tilt at the world’s richest race. A remarkable consistent and reliable performer, CIRRUS DES AIGLES wasn’t suited by the steady pace of the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup on his last trip overseas, staying on to finish a never-nearer fifth. Given a strong gallop, the gelding should not be too far away. Aidan O’Brien-trained ST NICHOLAS ABBEY, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf in November, adds a touch of class to the race and if his fitness is taken on trust should put up a bold show. Stable companion TREASURE BEACH is a classy performer on his day, winning last year’s Irish Derby after narrowly failing to land the English equivalent at Epsom. He merits respect under new rider Jamie Spencer. Godolphin, responsible for three of the ten runners, has stated their intent of retaining the prize after the ill-fated REWILDING took last year’s running. The unexposed SONGCRAFT, unbeaten in four starts, tasted defeat for the first time when third behind MIKHAIL GLINKA in the Dubai City of Gold. He has stronger claims than his stable companions CAVALRYMAN and SHIMRAAN. BEATEN UP, trained by William Haggas, is the dark horse of the race. He is progressing nicely, running out a smooth winner of Group 3 at Newbury when signing off last year, extending his unbeaten record to three. SELECTIONS: CIRRUS DES AIGLES, ST NICHOLAS ABBEY, SONGCRAFT & BEATEN UP Tipsters’ Selections Alastair Donald – Laura King – Brett Williams – Nick Mordin – William Hughes – International Racing Dubai Racing Channel Dubai Racing Channel Racing Post Weekender World Racing Service Bureau 9 St Nicholas Abbey 1 Songcraft 9 St Nicholas Abbey 8 Cirrus Des Aigles 9 St Nicholas Abbey 6 Treasure Beach 9 St Nicholas Abbey 8 Cirrus Des Aigles 7 Jakkalberry 1 Songcraft 8 Cirrus Des Aigles 8 Cirrus Des Aigles 3 Beaten Up 1 Songcraft 5 Cavalryman - 39 - 譜詞獻歌 (V1) 蘇萊 (阿聯酋) 125 蘇兆輝 (1) Lifetime : 5 (4-0-1) Turf : 5 (4-0-1) NH Rules : 0 (0-0-0) 1 2012 : 3 (2-0-1) Non-Turf : 0 (0-0-0) GF+ : - SONGCRAFT (IRE) 4 b g S bin Suroor (UAE) (Int'l Rating 114) S De Sousa 1st Up : - Dist : 3 (2-0-1) G : - Singspiel (IRE) - Baya (USA) (Nureyev (USA)) Earnings : HK$1,810,983 Track : 3 (2-0-1) Y : - (16.0) Owner(s): Godolphin Trk/Dist : 2 (1-0-1) S/Hvy : - Pos Date Race Details Track Dist/Course/Going Wt. Jockey Dr Race Time Finish & Odds Gear Winner/Second/Third Comments Margin 1/12 28Jul11 3yo unraced EUR24,000 CD, FR 2400 RH S 128 M H Guyon 8 2.43.70 1 Nose 2.2F Songcraft (IRE) Karlak (FR) Flash Jackson (GB) 1/11 13Sep11 3yo alw EUR29,000 ML, FR 1800 St S 130 M H Guyon 8 1.52.40 1 Nk 6.5 Songcraft (IRE) Albaraah (IRE) Pareo (FR) 1/13 12Jan12 3yo+ 100-110 Handicap MEY, UAE 2000 LH G 125 S A De Sousa 1 2.02.61 1 0.8 13/2 Songcraft (IRE) 123 Slowly into stride, mid-division, smooth progress USD120,000 Belgian Bill (GB) 123 500m out, led 200m out, comfortably Mikhail Glinka (IRE) 132 1/9 9Feb12 3yo+ 100+ Handicap MEY, UAE 2435 LH G 127 S A De Sousa 8 2.34.77 1 Nose 3/1F Songcraft (IRE) 128 Settled rear, smooth progress 500m out, ran on USD175,000 Laajooj (IRE) 123 well final 300m, led final strides Alkimos (IRE) 119 3/16 10Mar12 Dubai City Of Gold Sponsored MEY, UAE 2410 LH G 123 S A de Sousa 12 2.33.68 3 1.5 4/1 Mikhail Glinka (IRE) 126 Mid-division, ran on final 300m but never able to (DH) By Skywards 3yo+ G2 Cavalryman (GB) 126 challenge USD250,000 Campanologist (USA) 126 / Songcraft (IRE) 126 Unbeaten in his first four starts, the first two wins coming in France and this year he landed two handicaps here at Meydan, latterly when looking to benefit from the move up to 2435m. Upgraded to Gr.2 company last time he dead-heated for third and, considering he did not have a clear passage, gave the impression that he is still improving. 星運勇駒 (TT/SR) 郭克 (南非) 126 蘇銘倫 (2) Lifetime : 16 (7-3-1) Turf : 13 (6-3-1) NH Rules : 0 (0-0-0) 2 2012 : 2 (0-0-0) Non-Turf : 3 (1-0-0) GF+ : - BOLD SILVANO (SAF) 5 b h M de Kock (SAF) (Int'l Rating 118) C Soumillon 1st Up : - Dist : 0 (0-0-0) G : - Silvano (GER) - Bold Saffron (SAF) (Al Mufti (USA)) Earnings : HK$3,580,290 Track : 0 (0-0-0) Y : - (14.0) Owner(s): Sh Mohd Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum & Mrs Thompson Trk/Dist : 0 (0-0-0) S/Hvy : - Pos Date Race Details Track Dist/Course/Going Wt. Jockey Dr Race Time Finish & Odds Gear Winner/Second/Third Comments Margin 4/11 3Jul10 Champions Cup 3yo+ G1 CLA, SAF 1800 LH G 122 A Delpech 9 1.50.22 4 3.8 33/10 Orbison (SAF) ZAR750,000 Galileo's Galaxy (AUS) Pocket Power (SAF) 1/20 31Jul10 Vodacom Durban July 3yo+ hcp GRV, SAF 2200 RH G 122 A Delpech 2 2.13.03 1 1 13/2 Bold Silvano (SAF) G1 ZAR3,000,000 Irish Flame (SAF) Orbison (SAF) 1/9 3Feb11 Al Maktoum Challenge R2 MEY, UAE 1900 LH Tapeta 126 C Soumillon 1 1.57.71 1 1.5 7/4F Bold Silvano (SAF) 126 Slowly into stride, soon led, headed 900m out, Sponsored By Etisalat 3yo+ G3 Spring Of Fame (USA) 126 led again 500m out, ran on well, easily USD200,000 Interaction (ARG) 126 5/9 9Feb12 Firebreak Stakes Sponsored By MEY, UAE 1600 LH Tapeta 126 C Soumillon 7 1.36.29 5 1.8 4/6F Sandagiyr (FR) 126 Rear of mid-division, ridden 700m out, ran on Dubal 3yo+ G3 USD200,000 Tamaathul (GB) 126 same pace final 400m, nearest finish African Story (GB) 126 12/14 10Mar12 Al Maktoum Challenge R3 MEY, UAE 2000 LH Tapeta 126 C Soumillon 2 2.03.05 12 33.8 7/2F Capponi (IRE) 126 Never better than mid-division Sponsored By Emirates 3yo+ Silver Pond (FR) 126 G1 USD400,000 Prince Bishop (IRE) 126 Has always had a huge reputation and past victories include Gr.1 success in South Africa in 2010.