Angus McNae's Racing UK Blog
	Thursday 30th January 2014

The Godolphin Juggernaut Can Roll On in Dubai

Anaerobio was an 11-2 winner for me last week at Meydan and he was the star of the show on a good card, which I have taken a look at below.

Jamesie – Gulf News Tabloid Handicap:

My first impression of this race was that Christophe Soumillon got things wrong from the front on the runner-up Merhee (runs in the opener on turf).

The Trakus sectional timings, however, tell us a different story. Soumillon led the field through a quick first quarter mile of 24.76 seconds, establishing a lead. He then steadied things a little forcing just an even gallop through the next quarter mile. Thereafter he was only run down in the closing stages by the patiently ridden winner, who got a very good trip from an ideal draw.

There is no question as to the result, the race was run at an honest pace and the first two are clearly useful types.

In behind two horses shaped better than the bare result. Firstly Alraihjan who got a wide trip under Mikael Barzalona. This is not an opinion, this is fact as the Trakus ground loss figures tell us he lost a total of 11 metres throughout he race and was only beaten four lengths.

I also noted that Intransigent got a wide trip under Jamie Spencer. He lost 14 meters and was beaten by six lengths. He was also very keen through the early part of the race and with the freshness out of him he could be of interest at a price next time out.

Nag Me: Alraihjan

NagMe: Intransigent

Certerach - GN Focus Handicap:

The winner was quite impressive winning this 12-furlong event off a mark of 102. A rise in the weights may not stop him going close next time. The undoubted eye-catcher was the runner-up Topclas, who according to Trakus lost 15 metres through the race and was only beaten half a length.

This is a horse who beat Cirrus Des Aigles in 2009 at Clairefontaine. He is just a handicapper these days and does not win very often, but he would be worth an interest next time out. At the Dubai World Cup Carnival last year he was second to Anatolian in the second week of February and that race may be a target again.

Nag Me: Topclas

Alexandra Palace – Gulf News Classifieds Handicap:  

A busy finish which seemed to occur as a result of a strong early pace that collapsed, which caused plenty of horses to be scrummaging for room in the final quarter mile.

The winner came from well off the pace and got a relatively clean run through.

The winner can be marked up a little having covered more ground in the race than every horse bar Captain Joy.

The third horse home was Capital Attraction and he is one to avoid next time in my opinion. He sat close to the pace and seemingly ran very well, this is hard to deny, but he got the perfect trip here by covering 15 metres less than the winner and there is a case to be made that he was flattered by his finishing position.

Avoid: Capital Attraction.

Windhoek – Xpress Handicap:

An evenly-run affair won in gritty fashion by Windhoek, who in posting a victory had a hard race under Silvestre De Sousa.

The race was run at an even pace and early on the winner might have been further back than ideal, but he was good enough to make up plenty of ground in the last quarter mile.

That he had a hard race was because of his position in relation to the pace of the race early on and because he ran further than any other horse.

It is particularly interesting that he covered 17 meters more than the runner-up and 18 more than the third place horse.

It may just be that he is a good deal better than the bare result and probably should have won comfortably. For this reason he may be a bigger price than anticipated next time out when he must be of interest.

The one horse in the race that was ridden inefficiently was Plantagenet, who from having a decent position in midfield was roared to the front just after the six furlong pole and he paid for this big effort late on. He is better than the bare result.

Nag Me: Windhoek

NagMe: Plantagenet

Anaerobio – Al Fahidi Fort:

The feature event on the night won in emphatic fashion by a horse who is at the top of his game and possesses a smart turn of foot.

Having been handy throughout he fired off a final furlong of a tick under 11 seconds to stamp his authority on a good field.

He is clearly an improved performer who does not have many miles on the clock and he must be of interest wherever he turns up next.

Fulbright had been an impressive winner on the Tapeta prior to turning up here. He got a troubled trip and was never seen with a chance but should not be written off if he returns to the Tapeta on which he is bred to excel and is unexposed.

Nag Me: Fulbright

Gabrial – Property Weekly:  

The winner has to be patiently ridden and Jamie Spencer executed this ride to perfection. The pace was strong enough to allow him to close from a fair way back. He is not guaranteed to get a similar set up next time.

The runner -up El Estruendoso is a nice type, but he had every chance and seemed to hang fire for a stride or two. He is highly thought of by connections but is not one to place maximum faith in. The ground loss figures in this race revealed nothing of any consequence.

As far as this week is concerned we are in search of our third winner in a row at Meydan. No pressure, but here goes!

I am keen on Maputo in the Al Rashidiya, one of two Group Two events on the six-race card. He was something of a talking horse when with Mark Johnston last year and he delivered on a number of occasions.

He is now with Charlie Appleby who has made an excellent start to the Carnival. Mikael Barzalona will have to secure a decent trip from stall eight and that is something of a worry, but this a horse who fired in a big triple-digit speed figure last season and is a tremendous prospect. He can give Godolphin yet another winner in Dubai.

Angus McNae's Thursday tip:

5.00 Meydan: Maputo at 7-1 with bet365

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