Dubai Preview Jan. 19: Cape Verdi selections and a bonus play

William Buick’s decision to ride the unbeaten #1 English Rose may be the best guide to playing the Cape Verdi (G2) at Meydan Friday morning.

Meydan Race 6 Selections

• #1 English Rose
• #3 Mystic Pearl
• #8 Stenton Gilder
• #5 Shining Jewel

Meydan Race 6 Wagers

• $20 win: #1 English Rose
• $1 trifecta: 1, 3 with 1, 3, 8 with 1, 3, 5, 7, 8

Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby has three of the eight runners in the 1,600-meter (about one-mile) turf contest. His other two runners, #5 Shining Jewel and #7 Silver Lady, both have higher official ratings than English Rose and they bring decent form into the race.

However, Godolphin number one rider Buick, the regular rider of all three, has chosen potential over proven performance and decided English Rose is the best of the trio.

English Rose, by Frankel out of a Dubawi mare, has raced just twice, scoring decisively in a Newmarket maiden May 18 and on the Kempton all-weather Nov. 6 over the Cape Verdi trip of one mile. She looks highly progressive and may be at short odds.

Shining Jewel is having her first crack at stakes company after winning her last two starts, at Chelmsford Aug. 15 and Newmarket Sept. 23. Both were over a mile and she should handle the step up to stakes class. Silver Lady ran poorly at her final two starts of 2023 but had finished third in listed stakes company at York in May.

Outside the Godolphin trio, the pair to watch are clearly #3 Mystic Pearl and #8 Stenton Gilder. They clashed in the Coral Distaff S. at Sandown July 8, with Mystic Pearl springing a 22-1 surprise over the favored Stenton Gilder.

Stenton Gilder had runner-up finishes at Group 2 and Group 3 level before the Sandown clash but failed at her only subsequent start, while Mystic Pearl subsequently finished third in the Prix de Lieurey (G3) at Deauville Aug. 15 and may be the more progressive filly.

BONUS PLAY – Race 5, Cocoa Beach S., 1,600 meters, dirt

• $10 win/$30 show, #8 Mizzyaan: Favorite Manama Gold will be hard to beat, but this debutante by Justify out of Vale Dori has trained well for Doug Watson. Watch the market.