Dick Powell’s Dubai Pick of the Week Feb. 27, 2019

This year’s Dubai International Racing Carnival has been a sea of royal blue. There has been as many as seven entrants in a race wearing the Godolphin Stable blue silks and their only distinguishing characteristic is what helmet cap the rider is wearing. Race 2 at Meydan on Thursday morning is the $175,000 Meydan Classic for three-year-olds and Godolphin has two entered in the 15-strong field. The contest is set for a mile on the turf, with a long run down the backstretch going to the only turn. One of the Godolphin runners is GOOD FORTUNE (#5) (3-1), a progressive colt by New Approach who showed some talent at two. He made his three-year-old debut last out going seven furlongs against 15 other runners and took over in the stretch to hang on for the win. The time was good and his pedigree will allow him to go a lot farther. I like that he has shown some pace in prior starts and should be able to stay ahead of the bulky field. Good Fortune gets William Buick to ride, in the blue cap, and trainer Charlie Appleby just keeps sending out winners all over the world. On the rest of the Thursday card from Meydan, I like: Race 4: BIN BATTUTA (#4) (5-1) missed all of his four-year-old racing season but has come here and thrived. The son of Dubawi can run all day and his natural staying power was on display when he won going 1 1/2 miles off the 16-month layoff. He came back with a good third carrying 132 pounds behind repeat winner Spotify and now stretches out to 1 3/4 miles in the $300,000 Nad al Sheba Trophy (G3). His dam was a Group 2 winner and has produced European champion sprinter Dream Ahead. Race 6: ON THE WARPATH (#10) (9-2) is a four-year-old gelding who started his career with four starts on synthetic tracks. He switched to turf and raced well twice last season before heading to the sidelines for five months. Appearing here for the first time, he ran well twice going a mile on the turf and now turns back to seven furlongs with William Buick back aboard. Race 7: DESERT FIRE (#9) (4-1) won his last two starts last year before going to the sidelines for seven months. He returned here going a mile and won by a neck in good time against better handicap company. Last out, the four-year-old bay was a nice second going 1 1/8 miles against this level and now stretches out to 10 furlongs for Saeed bin Suroor, who adds blinkers to the colt’s equipment for this one. ***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/Erika Rasmussen