Dubai Preview – Chad Summers has a great chance at Meydan with his current record

#3 Clapton looks a great chance to extend trainer Chad Summers’ great record at Meydan when he contests the Al Maktoum Challenge (G1) Friday morning.

Meydan Race 6 Selections

• #3 Clapton
• #11 Kabirkhan
• #1 Atletico El Curano
• #10 Walk Of Stars

Meydan Race 6 Wagers

• $10 win/$30 show: #3 Clapton
• $1 trifecta: 3, 11 with 1, 3, 11 with 1, 3, 9, 10, 11, 12 

Summers has a perfect record at the Dubai track, having saddled Mind Your Biscuits to win the Golden Shaheen (G1) twice, and he looks to have a great candidate for this 1,900-meter (about 1 3/16-mile) event.

The son of Brethren improved throughout his four-year-old season last year, winning the Ghostzapper (G3) at Gulfstream Park April 1 and the Lukas Classic (G2) at Churchill Downs four starts later.

He found the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) a bit hot for him at his last start Nov. 4 when finishing 11th of 12, but doesn’t have anything of Breeders’ Cup class to beat here. If he can run to his Lukas Classic form, he will take a power of beating. Antonio Fresu has the ride.

By far the most interesting opponent is the inexperienced #11 Kabirkhan. A U.S.-bred son of California Chrome, he began his career with eight victories from nine starts in Kazakhstan and Russia before moving to the Dubai stable of Doug Watson late last year. Well-fancied on his UAE debut Jan. 12, he cleared away in style to win a 1 1/4-mile handicap.

Kabirkhan faces a big rise in class here but his potential is untapped and he can’t be left out of this.

Of the others, #1 Atletico El Culano and #9 Military Law were first and second in the Entisar here Dec. 22 and can go well again, while #10 Walk Of Stars lost a plate when third in the same race and could improve on that effort. UAE Oaks (G3) winner #12 Mimi Kakushi may be the best of the others.