Dick Powell’s Dubai Pick of the Week Feb. 20, 2019

Race 5 at Meydan on Thursday morning is the Zabeel Mile (G2) for older horses going one mile on the turf. The race will be run around one, wide left-hand turn and the field of nine seems pretty evenly matched. Unlike last week, only four of the runners entered are owned by Godolphin. MARINARESCO (#7) (20-1) is a Group 1 winner and champion in his native South Africa. He was third in the prestigious Sun Met (G1) in his last start there before enduring the crazy shipping and quarantine requirements that kept him sidelined for 12 months. The son of Silvano made his first start off the layoff here with a fifth in the seven-furlong Al Fahidi Fort Stakes (G2) and now stretches out to a mile for Mike de Kock. One factor that sticks out with de Kock is how important a race is to a horse’s development. He was able to get a race into Marinaresco four weeks ago and his charge now comes back as a fitter horse. It almost doesn’t matter how the seven-year-old bay ran in his return race; it just matters that he had it and will improve greatly off of it. This gelding has plenty of back class, draws outside for his big run and gets Bernard Fayd’Herbe back aboard. On the rest of the Thursday card from Meydan, I like: Race 3: RACING HISTORY (#2) (3-1) is a lightly-raced seven-year-old gelding who is stakes-placed in both starts at this year’s Carnival going 1 1/8 miles and now stretches out to 1 1/4 miles. He draws well, has tactical speed, and gets a major rider upgrade to Christophe Soumillon. Race 4: DIVINE IMAGE (#4) (2-1) broke her maiden in December on an all-weather track in England by six lengths. The daughter of Scat Daddy shipped here for this race’s prep, the U.A.E. 1000 Gunieas, and she got away from the gate badly before rallying for second. The chestnut lass showed interest all through the stretch and should have no trouble stretching out farther. Race 6: SYMBOLIZATION (#1) (3-1) has to tote high weight of 132 pounds but he should be able to do it. One of his best races last year was a fourth behind Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) winner Expert Eye going seven furlongs in the Jersey Stakes (G3)  at Royal Ascot. He carried the same weight against the same handicap group last out here when he ran fourth and should come on for William Buick second start off the layoff. ***Thursday in Dubai is a Bonus Cash day where after you opt in and bet using the new TwinSpires platform, you can split $1,000 by making four $25 wagers (no show wagers) on four separate races. PHOTO: Meydan Racecourse in Dubai (c) Dubai Racing Club/Neville Hopwood