Dubai Preview Feb. 16: Silent Film looks to improve from his last start

#7 Silent Film can improve on his last-start second and beat several former stablemates home in the Lord Glitters H. at Meydan on Friday morning.

Meydan Race 6 Selections

• #7 Silent Film
• #10 First Sight
• #3 Ouzo
• #6 Naxos

Meydan Race 6 Wagers

• $10 win/$20 show: #7 Silent Film
• $1 trifecta: 7, 10 with 3, 7, 10 with 3, 6, 7, 10

A winner of three when trained for the Godolphin team by Charlie Appleby, Silent Film was sold and transferred to the Ian Williams stable in the middle of last year.

He had a couple of below-par efforts for his new trainer but has started to show good form, winning at Kincsem Park in Hungary in September and then beating all but #3 Ouzo at Meydan Jan. 12.

Ouzo put up a great last-to-first effort in that race to win by half a length, but a more moderate pace here and a three-pound turnaround in the weights could be enough to get Silent Film home here, provided jockey Sam Hitchcott can find a decent path in the running from gate 15.

Ouzo can’t be ignored. Now an eight-year-old, he seems to have found a new lease of life in his most recent starts and is going for three victories in a row on Friday.

If Saffie Osborne can find the right path from the rear, Ouzo can again prove hard to beat.

Godolphin has four runners remaining in the field, three from Appleby’s stable, and #10 First Sight could prove the best of them. He put together three wins in four starts in 2023 and though he disappointed at Meydan Feb. 2, he didn’t get the cleanest run and may well improve with the outing. William Buick will be aboard.

One for longer odds could be #6 Naxos, from the George Boughey team. He disappointed a little over 1,400 meters (about seven furlongs) on dirt Feb. 2 but should enjoy the return to 1,800 meters (1 1/8 miles) and a move back to turf may also be to his liking.