I ride Muntazah in the Godolphin Mile. It’s his first start on the dirt, but he’s trained by Doug Watson so he trains on the dirt every day. He’s been going really well at home and I think he’ll run a big race. He’s got a good draw. He’s been handling the dirt well and he’s a big strong horse so I think he’s going to run really well. I can’t say he’ll win as it’s his first race on dirt but he’ll go well at a big price.
On the first course in recent weeks the pace has been holding up well. Horses that have gone forward and crossed to the rail have been winning. That said everyone is going to be aware of that so then you can have a situation where horses end up going too quick.
There’s another horse in the race that I think can run a big race, and that’s Musawaat. He’s been running really well and can go well at a decent price. I’d be opposing the favourite Heavy Metal. He was beaten last time and has a wide-ish draw. I’d be looking for horses that are well drawn.
Dubai Gold Cup – Gold Star
Gold Star is a lovely horse. I rode him last time and I got off him and said that he was crying out for a trip. He’s got no weight on his back, only eight stone nine pounds. The only downside is that he’s drawn 16 of 16, and although it’s a two mile race, I still need to get a decent pitch on him. He’s potentially a very good horse. Kieren Fallon rides him at home and I know he likes him. He shouldn’t be a 33/1 chance, and I think he can run really well.
He’s been running over a mile and a half and running really well over that trip, but he really is a two miler and if I can get a reasonable position on him I am sure that he’ll run a huge race.
Rare Rhythm is the standout horse but last time out he definitely got first run on Vazirabad. I would love to see Vazirabad win. I think it will be between him, Rare Rhythm and Sheikhzayedroad, but it will be no shock if my horse runs into a place.
The news broke this week that Ertijaal was injured and would miss the race which was frustrating as he’d beaten Blue Point last time out. He was also unlucky in the race last year because it rained heavily and was soft ground, yet he still ran a great race to finish third. So yes it’s disappointing that he’s injured, but it’s only a race. There are much worse things happening in the world.
I’ve switched onto Faatinah who is no bad ride to pick up. He won first time out at Meydan, and then was second to Baccarat last time. They’ve freshened him up for the race, and he runs his best races fresh. So I’m hoping he’ll run well. He’s a big price and he’ll have to step up to figure. He’s drawn 1 of 1 but it’s a straight six furlongs and he’s a forward runner so it shouldn’t be a problem.
Dubai Turf – Janoobi
I am really looking forward to riding Janoobi.I didn’t think the race panned out for him last time out yet he still ran a huge race.He’s a forward runner. He’s already beaten Championship this season yet Championship is 14/1 and my horse is 25/1. I think he is definitely going to outrun his odds. He is training well and Mike De Kock is really happy with him. There was a doubt whether he would stay a mile and one furlong which is why we ran in the trial and he stayed really well.
The Japanese horses are very strong and Benbatl is a good horse, but there is no way my horse Janoobi should be such a big price.
Dubai World Cup
North America has done nothing wrong and is well drawn in two. West Coast is clearly a great horse. I can’t look beyond the front two in the betting. Talismanic hasn’t run on dirt and I can’t have that. Any horse that hasn’t already run well on dirt is going to struggle. At the prices I think the value is North America.
