Meydan 26 March 2016 – 2000 m (10f) dirt

Runners presented with best

Globeform ratings, sires, jockeys

Globeform ratings are expressed in pounds.

1 length equals two pounds over this distance.

124 - CALIFORNIA CHROME (Lucky Pulpit) / V Espinoza

123 - KEEN ICE (Curlin) / R Moore

121 - FROSTED (Tapit) / W Buick

120 - MSHAWISH (Medaglia d'Oro) / F Dettori

118 - HOPPERTUNITY (Any Given Saturday) / F Prat

117 - SPECIAL FIGHTER (Teofilo) / F Jara

116 - MUBTAAHIJ (Dubawi) / C Soumillon

115 - HOKKO TARUMAE (King Kamehameha) / H Miyuki

115 - VADAMOS (Monsun) / V Cheminaud

114 - TELETEXT (Empire Maker) / S De Sousa

114 - GUN PIT (Dubawi) / J Moreira

114 - CANDY BOY (Candy Ride) / P Dobbs

FULL PREVIEW >>>

GLOBEFORM RATINGS

DUBAI SHEEMA CLASSIC (G1)

Meydan 26 March 2016 – 2400 m (12f) turf

Runners presented with best Globeform

ratings, sires, jockeys

Globeform ratings are expressed in pounds.

1 length equals 1,5 pounds over this distance.

121 - DURAMENTE (King Kamehameha) / M Demuro

120 - HIGHLAND REEL (Galileo) / R Moore

119 - POSTPONED (Dubawi) / A Atzeni

116 - DARIYAN (Shamardal) / C Soumillon

116 - LAST IMPACT (Deep Impact) / J Moreira

116 - GAILO CHOP (Deportivo) / T Jarnet

115 - ONE AND ONLY (Heart's Cry) / Y Take

112 - SHEIKHZAYEDROAD (Dubawi) / M Harley

107 - THE BLUE EYE (Dubawi) / H Bentley

FULL PREVIEW >>>

GLOBEFORM RATINGS

DUBAI TURF (G1)

Meydan 26 March 2016 – 1800 m (9f) turf

Runners presented with best Globeform

ratings, sires, jockeys

Globeform ratings are expressed in pounds.

1 length equals 2 pounds over this distance.

122 - INTILAAQ (Dynaformer / P Hanagan

116 - VERY SPECIAL (Lope De Vega) / J Doyle

116 - EURO CHARLINE (Myboycharlie) /

119 - REAL STEEL (Deep Impact) / R Moore

114p - TRYSTER (Shamardal) / W Buick

117 - FLAMBOYANT (Peer Gynt) / B Blanc

115 - THE CORSICAN (Galileo) / J Spencer

115 - GABRIAL (Dark Angel) / S De Sousa

111 - FORRIES WALTZ (Greys Inn) / C Soumillon

111 - GHAAMER (Hard Spun) / T O'Shea

110 - FARRIER (Tapit) / R Mullen

110 - HARRY'S SON (Haradasun) / A Delpech

110 - ERTIJAAL (AUS) (Hard Spun) / D O'Neill

109 - BATASEEN (Teofilo) / P Dobbs

108 - FORJATT (Iffraaj) / C Hayes

Euro Charline, Very Special; 2kg (4.4lb) sex weight allowance.

Add 4.4 to their ratings for direct comparison with the males

GLOBEFORM RATINGS

DUBAI GOLDEN SHAHEEN (G1)

Meydan 26 March 2016 – 1200 m (6f) dirt

Runners presented with best Globeform

ratings, sires, jockeys

Globeform ratings are expressed in pounds.

1 length equals 3 pounds over this distance.

126 - X Y JET (Kantharos) / E Jaramillo

123 - MUARRAB (Oasis Dream) / P Hanagan

118 - RICH TAPESTRY (Holy Roman Emperor) / G Mosse

117 - SUPER JOCKEY (Sandtrap) / J Moreira

116 - REYNALDOTHEWIZARD (Speightstown) / R Mullen

113 - CONFRONTATION (War Pass) / W Buick

109 - DOMINEER (Shamardal) / F Dettori

108 - MORAWIJ (Exceed And Excel) / C Hayes

106 - MASTER KOCHANGWONG (Commands) / D Whyte

105 - KIFAAH (Dubawi) / D O'Neill

FULL PREVIEW >>>

GLOBEFORM RATINGS

AL QUOZ SPRINT (G1)

Meydan 26 March 2016 – 1000 m (5f) turf

Runners presented with best Globeform

ratings, sires, jockeys

Globeform ratings are expressed in pounds.

1 length equals 3 pounds over this distance.

120 - ERTIJAAL (IRE) (Oasis Dream) / P Hanagan

120 - BUFFERING (Mossman) / D Browne

119 - SOLE POWER (Kyllachy) / C Hayes

118 - PENIAPHOBIA (Dandy Man) / J Moreira

113p - LADY SHIPMAN (Midshipman) / I Ortiz Jr

117 - MUTHMIR (Invincible Spirit) / D O'Neill

117 - GOLDREAM (Oasis Dream) / M Harley

116 - MONGOLIAN SATURDAY (Any Given Saturday) / E Jaramillo

115 - JUNGLE CAT (Iffraaj) W Buick

115 - NOT LISTENIN'TOME (Dylan Thomas) / R Moore

114 - BEL CANTO (Sakura Bakushin) / Y Take

112 - FITYAAN (Haafhd) / S De Sousa

112 - NAADIRR (Oasis Dream) / C Soumillon

110 - SIR MAXIMILIAN (Royal Applause) P Dobbs

Bel Canto, Lady Shipman; 2kg (4.4lb) sex weight allowance.

Add 4.4 to their rating for direct comparison with the males

GLOBEFORM RATINGS

THE UAE DERBY (G2)

Meydan 26 March 2016 – 1900 m (9.5f) dirt

Runners presented with best

Globeform ratings, sires, jockeys, draw

Globeform ratings are expressed in pounds.

1 length equals 2 pounds over this distance.

115p - POLAR RIVER (Congrats) / P Dobbs (2)

?p - VALE DORI (Asiatic Boy) / C Soumillon (5)

99 - FRANK CONVERSATION (Quality Road) / M Gutierrez (1)

? - YU CHANGE (Swift Current) / J Moreira (4)

95 - LAZZAM (Archipenko) / F Dettori (7)

? - LANI (Tapit) / Y Take (3)

? - ON THE ROCKS (Samurai Heart) / M Demuro (6)

GLOBEFORM RATINGS

DUBAI GOLD CUP (G2)

Meydan 26 March 2016 – 3200 m (16f) turf

Runners presented with best Globeform

ratings, sires, jockeys, post position draw

Globeform ratings are expressed in pounds.

1 length equals 1 pound over this distance.

120 - VAZIRABAD (Manduro) / C Soumillon (1)

117 - MANATEE (Monsun) / M Barzalona (8)

114 - BIG ORANGE (Duke Of Marmalade) / J Spencer (7)

114 - NEO BLACK DIA (Zenno Rob Roy) / S Akiyama (4)

112 - STAR EMPIRE (Second Empire) / W Smith (5)

111 - HAAFAGUINEA (Haafdh) / J Doyle (11)

107 - CERTERACH (Halling) / T O'Shea (6)

106 - MEADOW CREEK (Dansili) / P Dobbs (9)

106 - PARADISE (Samum) / M Demuro (2)

105 - TELLINA (Silvano) / R Moore (10)

105 - SUEGIOO (Manduro) / P Hanagan (3)

GLOBEFORM RATINGS

GODOLPHIN MILE (G2)

Meydan 26 March 2016 – 1600 m (8f) dirt

Runners presented with best Globeform

ratings, sires, jockeys, post position draw

Globeform ratings are expressed in pounds.

1 length equals 2 pounds over this distance.

118p - MARKING (Bernardini) / J Doyle (2)

116 - SLOANE AVENUE (Candy Ride) / F Dettori (9)

115 - ONE MAN BAND (Pivotal) / S Hitchcott (1)

113 - COOL COWBOY (Kodiak Kowboy) / P Dobbs (8)

113 - PRAYER FOR RELIEF (Jump Start) / W Smith (10)

112 - MAFTOOL (Hard Spun) / P Hanagan (5)

111 - LE BERNARDIN (Bernardini) / T O'Shea (3)

111 - GOLD CITY (Pivotal) / R Mullen (6)

? - GOD'S SPEED (Oratorio) / L Morales (7)

FULL PREVIEW >>>

Most bookmakers have priced up the races at Meydan on World Cup day and two horses stick out on these lists - begging to be backed.

FLAMBOYANT 50-1 / Dubai Turf

This US runner is way too big at 50's and a must each-way bet in the Dubai Turf, a race that will suit him really well. Flamboyant, who showed smart form in France at age two and three, has turned a corner this winter, winning two valuable turf events at Santa Anita. He produced Globeform 117 when upsetting the hot favourite Obviously in the 9-furlong San Gabriel Stakes (G2) in January, a race he won at 46-1. Many said it was a fluke. It was not. Flamboyant repeated the form to win the San Marcos Stakes (G2) over 10 furlongs just over a month later. GF 117 puts him right in the mix here. The distance, the likely pace scenario, and the course will be very much to his liking. Flamboyant comes here at the top of his form.

He ran well below his best in the prep race here three weeks ago, but any horse can have an off-day and the race was not run to suit Keen Ice that day. There should be more pace on in the World Cup, and he should be much sharper. He is the second top rated horse in the field, he has Ryan Moore on his back, and he has been really well drawn in stall one. Not perfect for all horses perhaps, but for Keen Ice - who will drop back - it is ideal. He is guaranteed to get nice, ground saving trip. 20-1 is way too big a price.

BUFFERING 10-1 / AL QUOZ SPRINT

One of Australia's best sprinters, Buffering has an obvious chance in the Al Quoz. He has been successful in 6 of his last 12 runs in Group One company, and he prepped for this race with a smooth odds-on win in the Magic Millions Plate. The Al Quoz is a tough race, with Ertijaal as the likely (and deserving) favourite - but 9's about Buffering is simply wrong. The only worry is the distance, as his best form has been over 1200 metres. On the other hand, with such gate speed, and such a determination to win, a strongly-run 5-furlong dash at Meydan might suit him well.

Opening race;

KAHAYLA CLASSIC BANKER

HANDASSA, a French trained runner owned by Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, looks the one to beat in this year's Kahayla Classic. The massive son of Madjani won the Al Maktoum Challenge Round III as he pleased. Handassa took some time to find his stride but when he did, rounding the home bend going very wide, it was soon obvious who would win the contest.

He grabbed the lead early in the straight, and quickened away for a comfortable 8 1/2-length win over AF TAWAQ, with NASHMEE back in third place. SHAHEER finished fourth and the race favourite Abu Alabayad (who is missing in the Kahayla Classic) was fifth, passing the winning post 14 lengths behind the winner. Handassa, who showed clear signs of immaturity in the paddock, stopped the clocks in 2.15.5 – a new course record for the Purebred Arabians.

It was even his first run over a dirt track, as he had raced on turf and an artificial track (once) in Europe. Handassa won a Group 2 contest over 2100 metres last year. Stamina is clearly no problem and he is not short of finishing speed either. Handassa looked absolutely different class in a strong field on his UAE debut and jockey Paul Hanagan remarked after the race; “he gave me a feel like a thoroughbred turning in”. Stall four means that he can enjoy a ground saving trip, while main rivals like Thakif (12) and Af Mathmoon (14) have wide starting berths.

THAKIF is a solid perfomer with experience. He won the President Cup over 2200 metres at Abu Dhabi and and was runner-up in a strong race over 1600 metres at Doha in February. He has also shown his liking for Meydan's dirt track, having won the Al Maktoum Challenge Round I in January. Thakif made virtually all that day, attacked from the front and drew off for an easy 3 3/4-length win over AF MATHMOON, who went on to win his next two races; landing a G2 event over 1400 metres here at Meydan and the Liwa Oasis (G1) over the same distance on turf at Abu Dhabi. Af Mathmoon raced proinently and was chased home by G3-winner Shateh on both occasions. Af Mathmoon, who has won five of his six races to date and is on the upgrade, has yet to try further than 1600 metres. His running style suggests that he will stay the Kahayla trip and he seems the best each-way alternative to the favourite.

VERSAC PY made a fine comeback when second to HAAJEB in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round II over 2200 metres in early February, and should turn the tables on that rival here. He had been out of action since the 2015 Kahalya Classic (injured / pulled up). The 9-year-old veteran looked fully recovered last month, and he has plenty of back-class. Versac Py went down by just a nose in the 2013 edition of the Kahayla (caught very late by Al Mamoun Monlau, with 2012 winner Tm Fred Texas behind). Last year, Versac Py won the Al Maktoum Challenge Round III, beating AF LAFEH by 3 ¼ lengths over this trip.

GLOBEFORM SELECTIONS

A: 4 HANDASSA

B: 5 VERSAC PY, 12 THAKIF, 14 AL MATHMOON

1 Kahayla Classic

2 Godolphin Mile

3 Gold Cup

4 UAE Derby

5 Al Quoz Sprint

6 Golden Shaheen

7 Dubai Turf

8 Sheema Classic

9 Dubai World Cup