Dubai Preview: One horse's improvements could lead to a win – Mar. 2, 2024

#3 Clapton should be improved enough to be a strong winning chance in the Al Maktoum Classic (G2) at Meydan on Saturday.

Meydan Race 6 Selections

• #3 Clapton
• #9 Nevershow Weakness
• #5 Franz Strauss
• #11 Remorse

Meydan Race 6 Wagers

• $10 win/$20 show: #3 Clapton
• $1 trifecta: 3, 9 with 3, 5, 9 with 3, 5, 9, 11, 13

Chad Summers’ five-year-old was a much-improved horse in 2023, scoring victories in the Lukas Classic (G2) and Ghostzapper Stakes (G3) and putting in a decent effort when fourth in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1).

He found the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) a bit rich for him but his improvement was enough for Summers to send him to Dubai this year. In his sole 2024 start, he battled away for third but found the Kazakh-owned Kabirkhan too strong in the Al Maktoum Challenge (G1) Jan. 26.

Without Kabirkhan in this field, he only needs to improve a small amount from his first effort this season to overturn Al Maktoum Challenge runner-up #5 Franz Strauss. He should also be aided by getting the services of one of the world’s best jockeys, William Buick.

Franz Strauss is also on the improve and put up a career-best performance last start. He should be prominent again.

However, #9 Nevershow Weakness could prove to be Clapton’s toughest rival. He has been much-improved this season, winning his last three races at Meyday by a minimum of 3 1/2 lengths each time. He looks to be a horse on the rise.

For lower rungs of the exotics, Nevershow Weakness’ stable companion #13 Walk Of Stars ran nicely in the Al Maktoum Challenge, and #11 Remorse, a regular at this level in the past two seasons, can make an impact at his first start for the year.

BONUS PLAY – Race 5, Dubai City of Gold (G2), 

• $10 win/$30 show, #4 Sisfahan: High-class German who was a highly respectable seventh in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) Oct. 1. Has some interesting Godolphin runners to beat but this field is not of Arc quality.