Angus McNae's Racing UK Blog
	Thursday 29th January 2015

Godolphin will write the Story at Meydan

Tamarkuz was a nice winner for us last week when for the first time in a while he broke on terms and thereafter the race was pretty straightforward.

This week the two big races are the Al Rashadiya and the Cape Verdi, both of which have generated slightly disappointing fields and are difficult to have confident selections in.

True Story
© Racehorse Photos

I am a big fan of True Story, who won on his debut in Dubai and looked to be on the way back to his best when winning the Singspiel Stakes last time, but he finds himself in a Group Two that looks completely devoid of early pace. This could lead to something of a quirky result, particularly if it means horses like True Story start to race too keenly.

There are seven runners who will go to post and not one of them is a confirmed front runner. The most likely pacesetter is the strong travelling Mr Pommeroy, who ran well to be second to Haafaguinea in a handicap last time, but he should not be good enough.

The confirmed class act in the race is Vercingetorix, who was a very good second to Just A Way in the Dubai Duty Free and won the Grade One Jebel Hatta last year. His official rating of 118 makes him superior to True Story to the tune of 5lbs and he may have an edge on that horse in that in a steadily run affair he is more likely to settle than True Story. That said True Story met a race last time that was not run at a furious pace and he settled reasonably well under James Doyle and his finishing splits were impressive.

Perhaps a bigger question for True Story fans is whether he will progress from his win in the Singspiel?

That is something I cannot answer. I said at the time that he is a horse who needs to be trained mentally rather than physically. He is lightly framed and clearly does not need much training, but he does need keeping sweet. If connections have managed to do just that then I think he will win.

This race should be a two horse go between Vercingetorix and True Story, and I expect the latter to have too much finishing kick for the Mike de Kock runner and he rates as the NAP selection.

Non-Carnival handicaps are not always the best guide to what may happen at the Carnival, but in the case of Filfil I think we have a horse who can make the step up in the 3.55.

He recorded two easy wins at the end of last year, and in so doing finds himself top-rated here off a mark of 93, which is 9lbs pounds higher than the mark he last won off. He was so authoritative in those wins, however, that I believe he can make the step up and beat the likely pacesetter in Pit Stop.

Pit Stop, who will be ridden by Mickael Barzalona, ran well seven days ago, despite having to confront ten furlongs, which is too far for him. Back in trip he rates as the main danger.

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Angus McNae's Thursday Dubai World Cup tips: 

3.55 Meydan: Filfil at 9-2 SkyBet

5.40 Meydan: True Story at 6-4 SkyBet