Kieren Fallon Dubai World Cup Blog

SO we have reached the
glittering end of the Dubai Carnival with World Cup night itself, and we’re all
really looking forward to what should be some fantastic racing.

Godolphin have had a
brilliant Carnival and it’s been fantastic that our stable has been able to get
in on the action. Saeed Bin Suroor works hard and it’s a big meeting for him,
and all the staff, so hopefully we can end it with a bang like we did last year
with Benbatl and Thunder Snow.

I do think it’ll be a
night for the favourites having had a look through the races. Godolphin have a
lot of strong chances, as you might expect, and it should produce some
excellent racing.

12.15 Meydan – Muntazah

He produced a huge performance to win the Burj Nahar over course and distance on Super Saturday and anything close to that will make him nearly impossible to beat. We run Major Partnership on the dirt for the first time, but I think he’s got a mountain to climb to beat Muntazah.

12.50 Meydan – Cross Counter

He’s the class horse in
this race. He won the Melbourne Cup last year as a three-year-old and you’d
like to think there’s plenty more to come from him. William Buick has chosen to
ride him over trainer Charlie Appleby’s other runner Ispolini so the horse must
be in good shape at home because William is an excellent judge of a horse.

1.30 Meydan – Blue Point

I can’t see this horse getting beat. He’s a proper Group 1 horse and he’s shown that in both of his starts in Meydan this winter. He might be at his best when he races over 5f rather than 6f, but it didn’t seem to bother him over course and distance on Super Saturday. He’s very good.

2.05 Meydan – Walking Thunder

The three-year-old form
has been very confusing this winter but I think this horse deserves another
chance. He bolted up in the UAE 2,000 Guineas Trial and then I felt he had an
unlucky trip in the UAE 2,000 Guineas when he was beaten next time. Frankie Dettori
takes over in the saddle from Connor Beasley and that has to be seen as a
positive move for the horse too.

3.20 Meydan – Dream Castle

It’s hugely exciting to
have Almond Eye competing in this race, so it is, and it’s probably the
highlight of the whole evening. She’s a brilliant filly and will be hard to
beat, but I was impressed with our fella Dream Castle last time. He really has
flourished out here and stepped up again to win on Super Saturday. He might
come up short, but he’ll give it his all. I wouldn’t completely rule out
Wootton either. I don’t think he’s had the best of luck so far, but he is drawn
badly.

4.00 Meydan – Old Persian

He only just got up to beat our fancy Racing History on Super Saturday but he will have come on a lot for that run. He should be spot on for this race and I think he’ll be tough to beat.

4.40 Meydan – Seeking The Soul

I think this will go the
way of the Americans, who have the best dirt horses in the world. This horse
ran a huge race to be second in the Pegasus World Cup last time and he’s got
the best dirt jockey around in Mike Smith riding in Dubai. The pace is low and
I think Mike will be able to get out and stalk the leaders before making his
move. Thunder Snow has got a bad draw which is going to make getting out and
leading like last year difficult. He’s in great form and we’re really pleased
with how he is, it’s just difficult for him from where he is drawn.

Good luck,

Kieren

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