Preview: 2018 Dubai Turf
Vivlos to Defend, The Rest Attack
Even before you get time to think it couldn’t get better, you will hear an announcement being made to call upon racers for the Dubai Turf. A group1 race run over 1800m at the Meydan Racecourse will be the seventh challenge of the day. This race will also take your excitement to new heights when you see the defending champion from Japan, Vivlos will take the field. But it’s not going to be an easy job to run 1800m with some great runners. Apart from the Jebel Hatta winner Blair House and 2017 Darley Stakes Winner Monarchs Glen, no one comes in this race with win under their belt. But that would also make them give their all in for this win.
This year we have 5 racers from Japan which include the defending champion, Vivlos, Neorealism (Neo Universe), Deirdre, Real Steel (Deep Impact) and Crocosmia. They go against a strong local line up which includes Blair House(Pivotal), Benbatl(Dubawi), Championship, Promising Run and Leshlaa. To give these runners a run for their money Michael De Kock trained Janoobi comes in.
Janoobi comes in this race with a third place (even though he looked good in the race) in Jebel Hatta but he also has a win in Zabeel Mile under his belt. The Ahmad bin Harmash trained Championship who was just behind Janoobi in the Zabeel Mile has shown good command on the race in the past but he is not new to the course is what will help him perform.
After wins in the Singspiel Stakes and Al Rashidiya, Benbatl looks very promising to win this one. The only hiccup he had was in the Jebal Hatta where he had to fall behind Blaire House. The Charlie Appleby trained Blaire House comes in with two back to back wins in a Handicap and Jebel Hatta. If only he gets his start and capitalize on it he can be in the front in no time. Promising Run another Saeed Bin Suroor trained came in fourth in the Jebel Hatta but after showing great performances in the Balanchine and Cape Verdi where he defeated some good runners.
Aidan O'Brien will get two of his runners in this race Lancaster Bomber and Deauville. The Irish horses have been trained to push themselves to the limit so watch for them as well. The son of War Front has not had a great season after his Breeders Cup performances where he came in second behind World Approval. On the other hand the son of Galileo will want to have a good start in his first race of the year. He has not raced after his dismal performance in the Hong Kong Cup last year.
Whereas our Japanese contestants being led Vivlos have shown some class in their races. And as we all know form is temporary and class is permanent, they will certainly want to prove their mettle in this race. Especially when Vivlos has already set an example for them that these courses can also be conquered by the Japanese trained horses.
Click Here For Full Racecard
By Apurva Chavan, Racing Writer, apurva.chavan@secretariatsworld.com