GLOBEFORM RATINGS

DUBAI SHEEMA CLASSIC (G1)

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

Runners presented with best

Globeform ratings, sires and jockeys

Globeform ratings are expressed in pounds.

1 length equals 1,5 pounds over this distance.

121 - DURAMENTE (King Kamehameha) / M Demuro 4

120 - HIGHLAND REEL (Galileo) / R Moore 8

119 - POSTPONED (Dubawi) / A Atzeni 7

116 - DARIYAN (Shamardal) / C Soumillon 9

116 - LAST IMPACT (Deep Impact) / J Moreira 1

116 - GAILO CHOP (Deportivo) / T Jarnet 6

115 - ONE AND ONLY (Heart's Cry) / Y Take 5

112 - SHEIKHZAYEDROAD (Dubawi) / M Harley 2

107 - THE BLUE EYE (Dubawi) / H Bentley 3

GLOBEFORM ANALYSIS

DURAMENTE was the top three-year-old in Japan in 2015, when he won the 2,000 Guineas (Satsuki Sho) at Nakayama in April and the Derby (Tokyo Yushun). He sustained injuries to both his forelegs and found himself on the sidelines when the big autumn races were staged. The son of King Kamehameha came back to racing action at Nakayama a month prior to World Cup night, when he beat Ambitious by a neck to win the Nakayama Kinen over 1800 metres. Dubai Turf contender Real Steel finished third. Duramente's Guineas success came at the chief expense of just Real Steel, who is also owned by Sunday Racing Co Ltd. Duramente won the 2,000-metres contest readily by 1 ½ lengths. Eventual St. Leger winner Kitasan Black was third. Duramente stepped successfully up to 2,400 metres in the Derby six weeks later. Quite dominant once more, the Mirco Demuro ridden favourite obliged by almost two lengths from Satono Rasen, with Satono Crown back in third (both are G2 winners). Duramente takes the highest Globeform rating into the Sheema Classic, and he is likely to find further improvement. So he easy to like, though he is also a horse who has been injured and paused for a long time – something that is always a bit of a worry. Still, his comeback win was pretty faultless and he has a good chance.

HIGHLAND REEL could also improve as a four-year-old, having been rather highly strung and immature as a three-year-old, when he landed the Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park in August and the Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin in December. The latter run was by far his best performance to date and he has been rested since. The Aidan O'Brien trained son of Galileo was heavily backed with UK bookmakers before his run at Sha Tin, where he met last year's winner of the Vase, the well established top flight runner Flintshire. Highland Reel went by Flintshire in a matter of strides inside the last 200 metres, and beat him quite easily by 1 ½ lengths. Jockey Ryan Moore had Highland Reel in front from the outset (he led all the way in the Secretariat) but took him back to third at the halfway stage. Highland Reel was definitely a mentally stronger, more grown up, performer when he came to Hong Kong – via Australia, where he had run third behind Winx and Criterion in the Cox Plate seven weeks earlier.

POSTPONED was a very smart performer in England last year, winning the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot when trained by Luca Cumani. He had been beaten into third behind Snow Sky and Eagle Top at the Royal Ascot meeting five weeks earlier, but turned the tables on both when it mattered the most – albeit only just got the better of Eagle Top, who he beat by a nose. It was Postponed's fourth career win, and he gained a fifth by landing the Prix Foy at Longchamp in September. He beat Spiritjim by three parts of a length that day, with last year's Sheema winner Dolniya back in fourth. Postponed is ideally suited by 2400 metres, and he goes well on any ground. His prep run for the Sheema came in the City Of Gold Stakes on Super Saturday, when he was a visually impressive 3-length winner over Dariyan, who reopposes here. Postponed, now in the care of Roger Varian, is defintely a leading player. His smooth win here three weeks ago is the main factor as he is made our selection in this year's Sheema Classic.

DARIYAN was easily beaten by Postponed when runner-up in the City Of Gold, but. He could well be open to improvement but to close a gap like that in three weeks seems unlikely. He has also been beaten by Highland Reel, who had him back in third in last year's Hong Kong Vase. Dariyan, effective from 2000 to 2400 metres, seems to act on any ground. He is normally held up at the back of the field though has the speed to take up a more prominent position if needed.

LAST IMPACT contributed to a surprise exacta when narrowly beaten by Shonan Pandora in the Japan Cup last November, when he was ridden by Ryan Moore. The son of champion Deep Impact ran the race of his life that day, as he had beat the favourite Lovely Day by a neck for second. It was not a vintage renewal of the race though, and Last Impact will find it tougher in the Sheema. He was beaten 3 lengths when sixth to Duramente in the Nakayama Kine last month (when receiving 1.5kg / 3lb from the winner).

GAILO CHOP produced his best form to date when he gained top level success beating Rising Romance by 1 ½ lengths in the Mackinnon Stakes over 2000 metres at Flemington in Australia last October (he led early, went clear and fought back really well after being slightly headed 200 metres out). The ex-English Contributor was half a length further adrift in third. The French trained challenger needs to improve on that form to make the frame here. He ran well on his seasonal debut at Chantilly early this month, taking third behind the Fabre duo Elliptique and Manatee (Gold Cup runner) in the Prix Darshaan over 1900 metres.

GLOBEFORM SELECTIONS

A: POSTPONED

B: DURAMENTE, HIGHLAND REEL

C: DARIYAN

Postponed beating Dariyan in the City Of Gold

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Duramente Photo: Japan Racing Ass.

GLOBEFORM RATINGS,

DUBAI WORLD CUP DAYS 2011-2015

DUBAI WORLD CUP WINNERS

Winners last five years, with

Globeform achieved in the race

2015: PRINCE BISHOP / GF 122

2014: AFRICAN STORY / GF 120

2013: ANIMAL KINGDOM / GF 121

2012: MONTEROSSO / GF 119

2011: VICTOIRE PISA / GF 119

SHEEMA CLASSIC WINNERS

2015: DOLNIYA / GF 118

2014: GENTILDONNA / GF 121

2013: ST NICHOLAS ABBEY / GF 123

2012: REWILDING / GF 121

2011: DAR RE MI / GF 116

DUBAI TURF WINNERS

2015: SOLOW / GF 127

2014: JUST A WAY / GF 130

2013: SAJJHAA / GF 116

2012: CITYSCAPE / GF 123

2011: PRESVIS / GF 121

GOLDEN SHAHEEN WINNERS

2015: SECRET CIRCLE / GF 118

2014: STERLING CITY / GF 119

2013: REYNALDOTHEWIZARD / GF 120

2012: KRYPTON FACTOR / GF 124

2011: ROCKET MAN / GF 123

UAE DERBY WINNERS

2015: MUBTAAHIJ / GF 116

2014: TOAST OF NEW YORK / GF 117

2013: LINES OF BATTLE * / GF 111

2012: DADDY LONG LEGS / GF 112

2011: KHAWLAH / GF 110

*) Lines Of Battle later renamed

Helene Super Star

GODOLPHIN MILE WINNERS

2015: TAMARKUZ / GF 116

2014: VARIETY CLUB / GF 120

2013: SOFT FALLING RAIN / GF 117

2012: AFRICAN STORY / GF 119

2011: SKYSURFERS / GF 118

AL QUOZ SPRINT WINNERS

2015: SOLE POWER / GF 119

2014: AMBER SKY / GF 116

2013: SHEA SHEA / GF 121

2012: ORTENSIA / GF 119

2011: J J THE JET PLANE / GF 115

DUBAI GOLD CUP WINNERS

2015: BROWN PANTHER / GF 117

2014: CERTERACH / GF 113

2013: CAVALRYMAN / GF 118

2012: OPINION POLL / GF 115

2011: Race not staged

Copyright: Geir Stabell / globeform