Bet Dubai World Cup Horse Racing: Garrity picks 8 Saturday morning stakes from Meydan Racecourse
We like international racing, and we especially like international racing’s big days. One of the biggest of all is Saturday: it’s Dubai World Cup day. Horses and horsemen from all over make a beeline for Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates, and we are making a beeline for the card as well, because it’s a great opportunity for a score.
We expect fast dirt and firm turf in the desert. Let’s go.
Meydan, Race 2, 8:15 am ET
Group 2 Godolphin Mile, 1 mile, Dirt, 4 & Up
Dirt milers take the stage for the Godolphin Mile. We like a horse at a price, 5-Dieu du Vin, a 4-year-old son of Declaration of War who has been facing some tough fields in his native Japan. He’s lightly raced, he appears to have plenty of upside, and he is ridden by Frankie Dettori, who always wins races on Dubai World Cup day. We will bet him to win at 12-1. The bet: Meydan, Race 2, $20 to win on 5-DIeu du Vin.
Meydan, Race 3, 8:50 am ET
Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup, 2 miles, Turf, 4 & Up
This one looks easy: 11-Subjectivist is one of the top stayers in Europe, as he showed by winning the Prix Royal-Oak at Longchamps, one of the top marathon grass races in Europe, last October. The ground for this race may be a bit firmer than he likes, but we’re just fine with that, because he seems to outclass the rest of this group. We will bet him to win at 3-1, and we will do so enthusiastically. The bet: Meydan, Race 3, $40 to win on 11-Subjectivist.
Meydan, Race 4, 9:30 am ET
Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint, 6 furlongs, Turf, 3 & Up
Thirteen line up for the Al Quoz Sprint, but we have eyes for only one: 8-Space Blues. This top-notch European turf sprinter, a 5-year-old son of Dubawi, comes into this race on a five-race winning streak, and while we would probably like him no matter the circumstances, the fact that trainer Charlie Appleby has been targeting this race for months makes him the likeliest winner of the day. He is 5/2 on the morning line, but will be shorter at post time; bet him anyway. We will play him to win. The bet: Mayday, Race 4, $75 to win on 8-Space Blues.
Meydan, Race 5, 10:05 am ET
Group 2 UAE Derby, 1 3/16 miles, Dirt, 3-Year-Olds
In a UAE Derby field that lacks a clear standout, we like a Japanese shipper, 4-France Go de Ina. Despite his international experience, and weird name, he’s a colt who would fit right in in an American stakes race, as he’s a Kentucky-bred by Will Take Charge and a Curlin mare. We like that breeding, but what we like even more is that he’s looked like a runner in his three races in Japan, all of which were on dirt and two of which were at 9 furlong distances similar to the mile and three-sixteenths here. We think he has a good shot at 5-1, and top American jockey Joel Rosario, must think so too, because he will ride France Go de Ina. We will bet him to win. The bet: Meydan, Race 5, $30 to win on 4-France Go de Ina.
Meydan, Race 6, 10:40 am ET
Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, 6 furlongs, Dirt, 3 & Up
American horses, and American speed, have dominated the Dubai Golden Shaheen since its inaugural running 25 years ago, and we think that trend will continue in 2021, and it will do so behind the colors of 13-Yaupon, a Steve Asmussen trainee who disappointed in his last, losing the Breeders Cup Sprint as the 6/5 favorite, but who seems poised for a rebound effort here. He’s blazingly fast, so fast that we think the rest of the field will be unable to keep up with him. Look for Yaupon to be in front early, in front around the turn,, and in front at the end; we will bet him to win, even with the understanding that his post-time price will be significantly lower than his 5-1 morning line odds. The bet: Meydan, Race 6, $35 to win on 13-Yaupon.
Meydan, Race 7, 11:30 am ET
Group 1 Dubai Turf Cup, 1 ⅛ miles, Turf, 4 & Up
10-Lord North had a good run in the Breeders Cup Turf, when he rallied to finish fourth, less than three lengths behind the winner, Tarnawa, the sensational Irish-bred filly. That’s heady company, but in the Dubai Turf Cup, Lord North will not face any horses of that caliber. Another plus is that he will get the firm footing he prefers, which is presumably why all-time great trainer John Godsen brought him to the desert. We think Lord North is the class of the field; we will bet him to win at 3-1. The bet: Meydan, Race 7, $50 to win on 10-Lord North.
Meydan, Race 8, 12:10 pm ET
Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic, 1 1/2 miles, Turf, 4 & Up
The field of the Dubai Sheema Classic is very good; this is a terrific race from both a sporting and wagering stanpoint. We like 9-Chrono Genesis, the Japanese-bred 5-year-old mare, who has already beaten fields tougher than this, who seems to be coming into this race in razor-sharp form, who should absolutely thrive on the firm going, and who seems to have been targeting this race since last year. We are the world’s biggest sucker when a mare runs against the boys, but in this case, we think Chrono Genesis has the goods. We will bet her to win at 5/2. The bet: Meydan, Race 8, $40 to win on 9-Chrono Genesis.
Meydan, Race 9, 12:50 am ET
Group 1 Dubai World Cup, 1 ¼ miles, Dirt, 4 & Up
It seems odd to handicap a Dubai World Cup that lacks an American headliner, but that’s what we have here. And in the absence of a dominant American entrant, we like a big price, 8-Magny Cours, a Godolphin homebred with an impeccable dirt pedigree (by Medaglio d’Oro and an A.P. Indy mare), and a French trainer, Andre Fabre, who is as good a conditioner as there is in the world. Magny Cours has never run on conventional dirt before -- he has eight career starts, five on turf, and three on synthetic surfaces -- but his pedigree suggests that he will like it, and the fact that Fabre has picked the world’s second-richest horse race for his first try on conventional dirt is good enough for us. At 12-1, we love his chances, and will bet him to win. The bet: Meydan, Race 9, $50 to win on 8-Magny Cours.
That’s all for now. Until next time, enjoy the racing, be safe, and, as always, good luck at the windows.