Dubai Racing Carnival

The Dubai Racing Carnival goes into its fourth day this afternoon and the main feature is the Group Three Al Shingayha Sprint over 6 furlongs at 18.40 CET. This has attracted a strong field with several candidates being aimed at the Group Obe sprint here at the end of next month. Our Giant (Mike de Kock/ Christophe Soumillon) and Gayego (Saeed bin Suroor/ Frankie Dettori) represent the two most successful teams here and are also the class acts in the field.

However they both carry a Group One penalty, which will not be easy in this company. From the German point of view one must hope for a good performance from War Artist (James Eustace/ Olivier Peslier), winner of the Goldene Peitsche last year. He is owned by Rupert Plersch, who also runs Talenta (Antonia Cintra/ W. Blandi) in the UAE 1,000 Guineas at 18.05. She meets her conqueror in the prep race Raihana (de Kock/ Soumillon) on 6 lbs better terms, but it is still hard to see her reversing the form with that very easy winner.

For us, the most important race is the 1 1/2 mile handicap at 19.15, in which German hope Quijano (Peter Schiergen/ Andrasch Starke) has top weight. Quijano, now 8 years old, is a regular fixture here and is running at the carnival for the fourth year running. He meets his old rival Mourilyan (Herman Brown/ Ryan Moore) as well as 2008 Irish Derby winner Frozen Fire (de Kock/ Soumillon), who is expected to step up smartly on his latest disappointing form here. Quijano will doubtless run well at his favourite track, but it will not be easy.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Chaperno - Fareej - Mendip
2. Race: Green Coast - Otaared - Escape Route
3. Race: Bridge Of Gold - Record Breaker - Emerald Wilderness
4. Race: Bab Al Salam - Re Barolo - Clasp
5. Race: Raihana - Waasemah - Bikini Babe
6. Race: Gayego - War Artist - El Cambio
7. Race: Mourilyan - Quijano - Frozen Fire
8. Race: Pan River - Alazeyab - Golden Sword