rest of Nad al Sheba

the rest of the Dubai vWorld Cup is also of the highest standard, with two races in particular standimg iut: The Dubai Duty Free over 9 furlongs on turf at 16.55 CET and the Dubai Sheema Classic over 1/2 miles on turf at 17.40. The latter event sees the only German starter of the meeting, Peter Schiergen´s Quijano with Anrasch Starke in the saddle. Quijano, who won here 3 times in 2007, was beaten in this race last year, and also in his prep race thisd time, but is expected to run much better this time. However he will have to put up a career-best performance to fi ish in the money against this opposition, who are headed by Hong Kong´ns Viva Pataca (John Moore/ Darren Beadman), who however is badly drawn. Saeed bin Suroor´s pair Gravitas (rankie Dettori) and Wets Wind (Kerrin McEvoy) are dangerous, as well as Youmzain (Mick Channon/ Richard Hughes), runner up in both the King George ad Arc last year, but behind Quijano at Baden-Baden. Dr. Dino (Richard Gibson/ Olivier Peslier) won the Hong Kong Vase, and South African hope Sun Classique (Mike de Kock/ Kevin Shea) can also be fancied. The Dubai Duty Free is probly the best race of the afternoon. Saeed bin Suiroor is again doubly represeented with Literato (Dettori) and Creachadoir (McEvoy), but possibly the high-ckass fillies can come out on top. Finsceal Beo (Jim Bolger/ Kevin Manning) won the English and Irish 1,000 Guineas last year and was just touched off by Darjina
in the French equivalent; Majestic Roi (Channon/ Darryll Holland) won the Sun Chariot and Vodka (Katsuhiko Sumii/ Yukata Take) the Japanese Derby. The first 3 races are all run on firt and Saeed bin Suroor hold a stromg hand in all three. Blackat Blackitten (Dettori) and Elusive Warning) can dominate the opening Godolphin Mile at 14.40, while Diabolical (Dettori) seems to hae only U.S. Hope Benny the Bull (R. Dutrow jr/ Edgar OPrado) to beat in the Golden Shaheen over 6 furlongs at 15.55. In the 8 runnings of the UAE Derby the winner has always come from the stables of Saeed bin Suroor or South African Mike de Kock and that looks almos certain to be the case again. Bin Suroor has 3 runners, Cocoa Beach (Ted Durcan), My Indy (Dettoori) and Numaany (McEvoy), while de Kock has two: Honour Devil (Johnny Murtagh) and Royal Vintage (Kevin Shea). Despite the jockey bookings, Cocoa Beach, easy winner of the UAE 1,000 Guineas and Oaks, can take this and score another win for the fillies.