Meydan today

Another strong card in Dubai today where the main feature is the Group Two Al Rashidiya over 9 furlongs on turf at 17.50 CET. The Maktoum family is strongly represented here, as there are 4 Godolphin and 3 Hamdan runners in the field of 10. Sharestan (Saeed bin Suroor/ Silvestre de Sousa) was most impressive when winning here last time and is a confident selection. Otherwise there are several runners with German connections who could run well. Ex-German Kassiano (Bin Suroor/ Ted Durcan) made an excellent debut here, and although he is not the choice of the stable jockey, should go well in the 9 1 /2 furlongs handicap at 16.05. Durcan also rides Smooth Operator for Mario Hofer in the 7 furlongs handicap at 17.15 and the 7yo, who has altready run two good races at the meeting, should definitely be involved. Peter Schiergen´s Nordic Truce (Andrasch Starke) also runs in this race - perhaps there will be a German forecast! But probably Schiergen and Starke have a better chance in the opening 10 furlongs race on turf with Salon Soldier.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Royal Empire - Alkimos - Mushreq
2. Race: Kassiano - Sandagiyr - Plantagenet
3. Race: Shea Shea - Fityaan - Russian Soul
4. Race: Ariete Arrollador - Lockwood - Rerouted
5. Race: Sharestan - Aesop`s Fables - The Apache
6. Race: Time Prisoner - Saamidd - Tertio Bloom