International Thoroughbred Racing Editor & Handicapper: Geir W. Stabell 1992 - 2021
GLOBEFORM RATINGS
DUBAI WORLD CUP (G1)
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
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
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
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)
EARLY VALUE BETS
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.
KEEN ICE 20-1 / WORLD CUP
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
ORDER OF RACES
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