Dick Powell’s Dubai Pick of the Week Jan. 30, 2019

Race 2 at Meydan on Thursday morning is the $250,000 UAE 1000 Guineas for three-year-old fillies going about one mile on the dirt. The race will start on a chute and make a dogleg left turn for the run down the backstretch. It has attracted a field of 15. FREE International Past Performances every day at Brisnet.com! DIVINE IMAGE (#7) (5-1) is an interesting filly who looks like she has star written all over her. One subtle positive is that she did not begin her career until December 13 of last year. Ordinarily, I might suspect she wasn’t that good and Godolphin waited for the season to be over but knowing that this race was on the schedule, I think it is a positive that they waited for the perfect prep for this. The daughter of Scat Daddy won at a mile on the all-weather track at Chelmsford City by six lengths as much the best. She was no surprise as the 6-5 favorite, as she sat third early in the two-turn, left-handed race. When space opened at the top of the stretch, she drew off to dominate a Coolmore runner named Stratification who is by Australia and out of Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Rags to Riches. It was a strong maiden and I think Godolphin knew what they had going in and now, coming out. James Doyle does not ride back as Charlie Appleby goes to lead stable rider William Buick. On the rest of the Thursday card from Meydan, I like: Race 5: GOLD TOWN (#1) (7-2) makes his second start off the long layoff. He was terrific here last year when he won a Group 3 by 10 lengths before running into Mendelssohn in the UAE Derby (G2). He came back here a couple of weeks ago in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 (G2), but the erratic North America was on his game and romped on the front end. Nobody was making up any ground on North America that day and Gold Town drops a notch in class here for Charlie Appleby and William Buick. Race 6: ASTRONOMER (#4) (8-1) makes his first start for Mike de Kock. The son of Galileo was formerly with Aidan O’Brien and we have seen de Kock win with this type before first start out of his barn. The winner of four straight races last year, Astronomer was never near the first team but had no trouble going long while carrying high weight. Race 7: BEDOUIN’S STORY (#15) (4-1) won by three lengths two starts back going seven furlongs on soft turf at Newbury, then was off for almost three months. He returned here with a good third against better company and gets the red-hot Oisin Murphy, who won five races in Japan on Sunday. ***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.