Dubai World Cup Night Preview 2015

Golden Harp - Japanese superstar Harp Star can win the Sheema Classic.

It’s hard to believe that Cheltenham was only just over two short weeks ago but the greatest show on turf is going to feel like even more of a distant memory this weekend as the flat returns in earnest.

Around this time of year I always like to put up a few selections for a great day of racing at Meydan as the world’s richest race takes centre stage.

This year’s World Cup though does little for me in terms of punting because the horse I really want to back California Chrome is extremely short in the betting now.

Having landed a nice touch on ‘the people’s horse’ in the Kentucky Derby last year I became a fully fledged ‘Chromie’ and in spite of all the controversy that followed I remain firmly in that camp and would love nothing more than to see him win the Dubai World Cup.

He’s the box office horse in the race but it’s easy to forget the rags to riches story of this horse, and though the World Cup winners’ roster isn’t exactly filled with superstars it’d be some turn up for a horse with such a small team and unsexy profile to land the richest race in the world.

If you are looking for some interest in the race then Candy Boy could be the value call at a decent price however.

Sixth in the Breeder’s Cup Classic (Chrome 3rd) and without a win for over a year you’d be forgiven for thinking he had no chance, but he’s not exactly had much luck in running during that time having been hampered in the Kentucky Derby and forced to race wide on more than one occasion.

He’s a monster of a horse and if Dubai-based American trainer Doug Watson has him spot on for his first start for new connections he could surprise a few people granted some much deserved rub of the green.

The undercard however is where we will find a handful of horses I want to back with a degree more confidence.

Starting in the Sheema Classic with Harp Star; Ryan Moore did me a favour in this race last year when rallying home Gentildonna having picked up the ride at least partly based on questionable tactics employed by the horse’s previous rider in the race twelve months earlier.

Moore can do the same again here because if you saw Harp Star’s effort in the Arc last year you know that this horse has a ton of ability but just needs to be produced off a hold up ride, a tactic taken to the extreme in the Arc when she was a fast-finishing sixth having been left with an impossible task by her jockey Yuga Kawada.

Only fifth in her prep for this last month, the Japanese Guineas winner is still a bigger price than I expected her to be and if Ryan Moore can get work his magic on her then I think she can gain a deserved success on the global stage.

People are citing the lack of pace in the race as a potential hindrance to her chance but if anyone can judge a race right when it really matters it’s that man Moore and with Paddy Power at a stand out 10/3 at present she looks worth a bet.

I’ll be sticking with Ryan Moore in the Turf as well, albeit with slightly less confidence, when he teams up with The Grey Gatsby for Kevin Ryan.

Gatsby is another one that could create somewhat of a fairytale with a victory here given his smaller Yorkshire-based trainer. Ryan Moore teamed up with this lad to great effect on numerous occasions last season, including when shocking Australia in the Irish Champion Stakes under a majestic ride.

Consistently underrated he’ll need to be every bit as good as he was at his peak last season to once again taste victory but I think he looks a good enough price to take the risk that everything comes together on Saturday.

Finally, I like Secret Circle in the Golden Shaheen for Bob Baffert. This race looks at the mercy of the American dirt speedballs and Baffert’s charge never runs a bad race.

He looked to have a huge future as a two-year-old but suffered injury early on in his three-year-old campaign which kept him off the track for a frustrating length of time.

He returned looking as good as ever though and won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint in spite of a wide trip throughout making him a dual Breeders’ Cup winner.

He attempted to become only the second horse to win three races at the American showpiece when returning to defend his Sprint crown last year but went down to Work All Week by an agonising half length having just got rolling too late.

Bob Baffert might not be making the trip over to Dubai but this horse looks the pick of the US raiders and I’m hopeful a horse I’ve followed since his juvenile campaign can begin what is likely to be his final season with a huge victory in the UAE.

Recommendations:

World Cup – Candy Boy 0.25pt each-way @ 16/1 (Paddy Power)

Sheema Classic – Harp Star 1pt win @ 10/3 (Paddy Power)

Turf – The Grey Gatsby 0.5pt win @ 4/1 (Betfred)

Golden Shaheen – Secret Circle 1pt win @ 7/2 (Paddy Power)