It’s World Cup night in Dubai and Sole Power is back to defend his title in the Al Quoz Sprint, over his favourite trip of five furlongs (watch last year’s renewal above).
He’s been there and done it before, and is the first name on the shortlist after being so narrowly denied last time out at Meydan in a three-way photo with the re-opposing Fityaan and Jungle Cat (watch below).
Both those foes are priced like no-hopers for this despite racing off level weights that time, as they had the advantage of race fitness last time out, with the two European raiders Sole Power and Goldream making their reappearances.
Whilst the trainer of multiple-Group One winner Goldream has played down his chances after that disappointing reappearance – he usually goes well fresh – if Sole Power comes on for the run he should have the measure of Jungle Cat and Fityaan, with the former perhaps best suited to six furlongs.
Sole Power is a sorely tempting price at 13/2.
That said, Jungle Cat, Godolphin’s only runner in the race and the mount of William Buick, remains unexposed over five furlongs and is also entitled to improve given his injury-hit three-year-old season never really got going.
William Haggis and Yorkshire are represented by the five-year-old Muthmir, who on his day is top-class over five furlongs on quick ground.
He’s had a run at Lingfield already so should strip fitter and warrants respect, but with no history at Meydan we’ve no clue to how he’s acclimatised and looks a bit of a punt at 10/1.
The big prize money has attracted more than just the best of Europe though, with top-class raiders from Hong Kong, USA and Australia too.
The last big International Group One sprint was over in Hong Kong at Sha Tin, where Peniaphobia defied a wide draw to make all from Ryan Moore’s mount Not Listenin’tome (watch above).
Sha Tin is a tight, turning track, which makes a huge difference over the minimum trip of five furlongs and it’s tricky to measure the value of the form, particularly given the consistent failings of top-class European raiders like Sole Power at that track.
That said, winning a Group One from a car park draw at Sha Tin takes a special horse and Peniaphobia was beaten just half a length by Sole Power in this last season, so he has no issues with the straight track and arrives with leading claims.
He looks one of the safest bets on offer at a general 6/1.
Ryan Moore thinks Not Listenin’tome will be better on a straight track like this and reckons he has a strong each-way chance – particularly as he arrives after posting a very impressive time in his prep race back at Sha Tin.
Any horse he rides merits respect but I think 8/1 might be on the short side given the more solid claims of his fellow Hong Kong raider.
Australia send Buffering, who despite being one of the elder statesmen in the lineup is a bit of an unknown quantity outside of Australia, and a glance at his home form suggests he might lack the class against such a high-quality field.
The USA is represented by Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint second Lady Shipman – and she would have won that race but for a few more strides (watch below).
She looks to have been overlooked by the market at 16/1 and ranks a lively outsider.
It’s likely she will, like most American sprinters, blast out from the stalls and make the running from her wide stand-side draw of 13, which seems to be the side of the track that produces the most winners at Meydan.
She warmed up for this with an impressive win at Gulfstream (watch below), so won’t have any excuses if she’s not good enough.
Finally the favourite and another possible front-runner is Ertijaal in the Sheik Hamdan colours, the choice of retained rider Paul Hannigan.
Considering the owner runs three in the race – Muthmir and Fityaan also – it’s a confident choice by Hannigan and the market confidence speaks volumes.
The concern is I don’t think he’s beaten much, given he’s run in handicaps the last thrice.
A two length beating of Fityaan (watch below) has obviously been franked since and he totally outclassed him that time, giving him lumps of weight in doing so, but a top-class international field of bona fide Group One winners is an altogether different proposition.
It’s a fiercely competitive race and anything could happen over the minimum trip, but it pays to be up with the pace in these sprints and SOLE POWER is surrounded by it, which perfectly compliments his hold-up tactics – the faster they go the better.
He looks certain to go close and looks a nice price at 13/2, but the unexposed four-year-old filly LADY SHIPMAN could be the one to cause an upset.
She’s got loads of pace and, being drawn away from Ertijaal and Peniaphobia, the field could split in two and she could lead those on the stand-side home at a big price.
Such is the threat of ERTIJAAL that he’s worth a saver.
1pt win Sole Power @13/2 (SkyBet), 14:10 Meydan, Saturday
1pt win Lady Shipman @16/1 (SkyBet), 14:10 Meydan, Saturday
0.6pt win Ertijaal @7/2 (Paddy Power), 14:10 Meydan, Saturday