Tag: UAE 1000 Guineas

Local Time 40-1 for 1000 Guineas after UAE romp

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Meydan provided flat racing fans with a taste of things to come this year with a top quality card on Thursday. The returning Dubai World Cup winner African Story failed to overcome his lengthy absence but there is no doubt who was the star of the show. Godolphin filly Local Time blew away the opposition in the UAE 1000 Guineas, winning by three and a quarter lengths.

The race was billed as a re-match between Local Time and Ad Idem after the pair had been separated by just a short-head in the trial two weeks’ ago. Ad Idem, trained by Mick de Kock, set out in front but was always travelling too keenly in the hands of Paul Hanagan. James Doyle sat in his slipstream before moving upsides with other three furlongs to run.

It was already obvious that Local Time was going much the better and she strode clear to win impressively. Stable companion Good Place ran on well to take second with Ad Idem dropping right away to finish last. A year ago I was very keen on the chances of Ihtimal for the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket after a similar performance. She went on to win the UAE Oaks by a record margin before finishing third at Newmarket.

Could Local Time be in that class? She was officially rated only 89 after beating Astrelle in the Oh So Sharp Stakes in October (coincidentally a race won by subsequent Guineas winner Miss France in 2013), a rating revised to 99 after her trial victory. I would imagine this latest win puts her up to around 106. The current 1000 Guineas favourite is Aidan O’Brien’s Found who was third to Cursory Glance (112) in the Moyglare Stud Stakes before winning impressively in France. In terms of the ratings, Local Time is a lively outsider but the bookmakers quotes vary from 16-1 with Stan James to 40-1 with 888sport.

The problem for ante-post backers is guessing Godolphin’s plans for the filly. It seems very likely that she will follow Ihtimal by running in the UAE Oaks before a decision is made regarding Newmarket. If she wins well there, she could run in the UAE Derby or the Guineas. Godolphin may even be tempted to run her in the Kentucky Oaks, given her improved form on dirt.

African Story was always going to be up against it in the Al Maktoum Challenge after almost a year off the track. He never threatened to get involved, eventually finishing seventh behind Frankyfourfingers and Prince Bishop.

Local Time 1000 Guineas @40-1 888Sport, 32Red

UAE 1000 Guineas Preview

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The cold snap has limited the racing action in the UK largely to the all-weather so far this week. Hopefully temperatures will climb sufficiently by the weekend for a cracking Newbury card featuring the Betfair Hurdle and the return of Sire de Grugy in the Game Spirit Chase.

The 1000 Guineas may seem a long way away but Godolphin are already preparing their team and the UAE 1000 Guineas takes place at Meydan on Thursday. Last year we were keen on the chances of Ihtimal for the Newmarket classic after she stormed to success in Dubai. She ran a cracker to finish third and went on to finish fifth in the Oaks, although she may have done better at Epsom with a more judicious ride. Sadly, Ihtimal had to be put down last month after sustaining an injury in Dubai.

The famous blue silks could be carried to victory again this year by the improving Local Time. She won the Group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket last season and won the UAE 1000 Guineas trial recently. She looked to have too much to do with a furlong to travel but clawed her way to the front to beat Ad Idem by a short head. She meets that four-year-old on identical terms but has an extra furlong to travel. She does not have the turn of foot of Ihtimal but she has the heart of a lion and can come out on top.

I will also be keeping an eye on Charlie Appleby’s unbeaten filly Yodelling who is unbeaten after two starts. She is out of that good mare Echoes of Eternity and will probably be better suited by middle distances later in the year.

Racing fans will also be looking forward to seeing 2014 Dubai World Cup winner African Story returning to action after almost a year. He lines up in the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge at 5.40 for his first start since providing Saeed bin Suroor with his sixth winner of the big race.

African Story broke the track record when beating Mukhadram but that was a massive step up on his previous form. I would be surprised if he is at his peak after such a long lay-off. Prince Bishop won the September Stakes at Kempton and has a history of winning after a break while there are several recent winners including Le Bernardin and Cooptado. I was more impressed with the former and he could cause an upset if striking for home early in the straight.

The closing race is the Cepsa Mile, a handicap for four-year-olds and upwards over a mile. Magic City got no run at all when running at Lingfield recently and it will be interesting to see how he goes after flitting over to Dubai for Richard Hannon. I have him down as a seven-furlong specialist but he was a close third in the Betfred Mile at Goodwood and the Shergar Cup Mile at Ascot. Richard Hughes takes over from Sean Levey and let’s hope he can weave a way through this large field.

Local Time 3.55 Meydan @5-2 Betfair

Le Bernardin 5.40 Meydan @12-1 Bet365

Magic City 6.15 Meydan @10-1 Bet365

UAE 1000 Guineas Preview

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A couple of weeks ago we enjoyed a welcome distraction in Dubai with Wedding Ring winning impressively for Charlie Appleby. The filly earned a quote of 25-1 for the Newmarket Guineas but she may not be the best of the Godolphin team.

Last season I was a big fan of Ihtimal and she returns to action tomorrow in the UAE 1000 Guineas and a clash with Wedding Ring. The two met at Newmarket in July with the latter coming out on top by a quarter of a length but it was Ihtimal that went on to Group 2 success.

She is a daughter of Shamardal out of a Dubai Destination mare and went on to finish third to Berkshire at Royal Ascot before losing her maiden tag in the Group 3 Sweet Solera Stakes. That was her first run at seven furlongs and she was even more impressive in taking the Group 2 May Hill Stakes at Doncaster in September.

Silvestre De Sousa held her up before swooping late and quickly putting two lengths between herself and Majeyda.  She was given one more run in the Fillies Mile back at Newmarket later that month but De Sousa may have overdone the waiting tactics. He was up against some smart fillies and gave Ihtimal a lot do, running on strongly to finish three lengths behind Chriselliam and Rizeena. Chriselliam went on to win at the Breeders’ Cup and that is the best form among the fillies last year.

On official figures, Ihtimal has around 8lbs in hand of Wedding Ring and it would be no surprise to see them finish 1, 2. Mick De Kock saddles three in the race with Christophe Soumillon preferring Mensoora. The daughter of Jet Master was disappointing behind Certify last week and will need to step up considerably to trouble the Godolphin pair.

Illuminating Dream is an interesting runner for David Brown in the colours of Qatar Racing. She won well at Beverley in August but was beaten by Bremner at Ayr on her final start. She is by High Chaparral so is bred to get a trip and the same could be said of Feedyah, a game winner over a mile at Ascot on her final start at two years.

Oxsana has finished behind Wedding Ring on all three occasions that the pair have met. Her best effort was when getting to within a quarter of a length over six furlongs at Newmarket. She is well held on her last run at Meydan.

Ihtimal 15-8 Bet365