Richard Mann has three more selections at Meydan on Thursday as the Dubai World Cup Carnival continues apace.
Recommended bets
2pts win Rastrelli in 3.40 at Meydan at 7/2
The Group Three Nad Al Sheba Trophy headlines the latest instalment from this winter's Dubai World Cup Carnival with Meydan hosting another valuable and high-quality card on Thursday.
Secret Advisor is sure to prove popular for the day's feature race having maintained his steep upward curve when landing a Listed Handicap in good style over this course and distance last month.
Despite being easy to back beforehand, Secret Advisor stayed on in really good style on that occasion to number the likes of Dee Ex Bee and Mekong amongst his victims and this return to group company is more than justified.
Like so many of Dubawi’s progeny, don’t be surprised if this late-maturing type continues to progress but I’m really excited to see what SPANISH MISSION can achieve as a four-year-old and he has the potential to prove a class above these.
David Simcock’s strapping bay enjoyed a fruitful three-year-old campaign, one which saw him run out an impressive winner of the Group Three Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket last summer before he rounded off his season by scooping a hugely-valuable pot in America.
🏇🇪🇸 Spanish Mission (13/2) wins the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket under Jamie Spencer...pic.twitter.com/mU255cXd72
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) July 11, 2019
Regular pilot Jamie Spencer had to be at his very best that day, bringing his mount from the rear with a sustained late run up the Belmont Park straight which saw him inch his head in front in the shadows of the post.
His American owners are clearly keen to chase more big prize money but with the belief that his best days are still ahead of him, there is every reason to think he can make his mark wherever he turns up this year.
Simcock has tasted notable success on a couple of occasions at the Carnival already this year and with the step up to 1m6f surely an added positive to the chances of Spanish Mission, everything looks in place for another landmark victory for the Newmarket handler.
Simcock isn’t the only one to have been flying the flag for Britain in Dubai this winter with Simon Crisford also making his presence felt with his select string.
Epic Hero was a good winner for the yard last week and RASTRELLI looks to have plenty going for him in division one of the District One Residence Cup.
Twice successful as a juvenile, Rastrelli only made the track on a couple of occasions last year but he still managed to win in taking fashion over 1m2f at Newmarket before leaving Charlie Appleby and joining Crisford’s shrewd operation.
Despite having a 609-absence to overcome, Rastrelli made a highly-encouraging stable debut when finishing strongly to grab a share of place money over a mile here just over six weeks ago.
In truth, a mile on a good ground would be the bare minimum for the son of Siyouni and returned to this longer trip, and with James Doyle again a very good booking for the yard, it will be disappointing if Rastrelli can’t go very close.
Captain Von Trapp looks to have a fair bit on his plate in the District One Blueviews Stretch Handicap but he ran much better than the bare result would suggest when chasing a furious early pace here last time and his current mark might not prove beyond him in time.
He is of interest but the third and final bet on the card comes in the shape of recent victor GEORGE VILLIERS.
The son of Dubawi had looked to be crying out for another crack at 1m2f recently and he proved that to be the case when running out a comfortable winner over this course and distance last time.
He did remarkably well to overcome stall 13 on that occasion – travelling smoothly throughout before leading at the furlong pole – and stall two ought make his job that bit easier this time around.
GEORGE VILLIERS strikes late to land the closing contest in fine style under @OsheaTadhg.
— Meydan Racing (@MeydanRacing) January 23, 2020
👏🐎👏#DWCCarnival #MeydanRacing pic.twitter.com/agmhgYjA6T
A 4lb rise in the weights leaves him with more to do but as alluded to earlier in this piece, progeny of the great Dubawi invariably keep on improving with age and George Villiers’ impressive recent run of form would certainly support that theory.
Big Kitten is a potential improver now returned to turf in division two of the District One Residence Cup and trainer Doug Watson should be getting to know his new recruit now while the same trainer is responsible for Fanaar in the closing District One Mansions Trophy.
Another who hasn’t been with Watson long, Fanaar dealt a blow to this column when flashing home for fifth at 25/1 here last week, thus narrowly failing to reward each-way support, but he remains of interest for his new yard.
However, Dane O’Neill was forced to sit and suffer before finishing strongly from stall seven last week so stall 14 on this occasion is hardly the most appealing proposition.
He’ll get the watching brief this time with Spanish Mission, Rastrelli and George Villiers tasked with building the Cheltenham Festival pot.
Preview posted 1515 GMT on 26/02/2020
