Dubai Super Saturday: Japanese add interest to auditions for World Cup night

Meydan’s “Super Saturday” might not have the fanfare of last week’s Saudi Cup (G1), but the traditional dress rehearsal for the April 5 Dubai World Cup (G1) extravaganza remains informative. 

Added interest comes courtesy of a pair of Japanese shippers prepping for the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) and Godolphin Mile (G2), respectively. Also, looking beyond World Cup night, Godolphin turf sophomores will tune up ahead of their spring return to Newmarket for the British classic trail.

Here’s a look at the eight Thoroughbred stakes on Super Saturday. As ever, note that the morning-line odds in the past performances can be quite different from the betting on raceday. Watch for market movers and drifters nearer post time. 

Jumeirah 1000 Guineas: Race 2, 9:05 a.m. ET

Godolphin’s #4 Mountain Breeze (4-5), who had flopped in her North American venture in last fall’s Natalma (G1) at Woodbine, resumed with a vengeance here Jan. 31. The Charlie Appleby filly will be the prohibitive favorite to flaunt her class as she steps up to the metric mile, and it would be a big boilover if she doesn’t. Although French-based #3 Lhakpa (7-2) tired to third behind Mountain Breeze and Spain’s #5 Octans (9-2) in the same tune-up going about seven furlongs, she could have more to offer second time out. Lhakpa, a well-bred daughter of Siyouni, was highly tried as a juvenile last season. 

Burj Nahar (G3): Race 3, 9:50 a.m. ET

#2 Cagliostro (6-1) was a near-miss third in the Jan. 24 Firebreak (G3) over this same track and trip in his debut for Hamad al Jehani. A multiple Grade 3-placed stakes winner when trained stateside by Cherie DeVaux, he tended to promise more than he actually delivered. Still, the Wathnan Racing recruit should move forward in this course-and-distance stepping stone to the Godolphin Mile. 

Churchill Downs track record-setter #3 Castlewarden (5-1) presumably needed the run when third off the layoff in his first local start. The Bhupat Seemar pupil traveled very well in contention before his fitness gave out. His full brother and stablemate, Laurel River, had blown up similarly in his UAE bow last year, only to roar back in this very race. Castlewarden also gets a gear change as he puts the blinkers back on. Japan’s #16 T O Saint Denis (9-1) promises to inject plenty of pace, with the question being how far he can take them. #5 Local Dynasty (4-1) is intriguing on the cutback for Simon and Ed Crisford, while value may lie with #13 Saleymm (12-1) representing high-percentage trainer Michael Costa. 

Nad al Sheba Turf Sprint (G3): Race 4, 10:25 a.m. ET

Sophomore #15 West Acre (4-1) produced an explosive late kick to dominate elders including #7 Ponntos (11-1) in the Jan. 24 Blue Point (G2) in course-record time at this about five-furlong distance. The Mehmas gelding gets less of a weight break on Saturday, but the seven-pound concession from the older males remains a significant factor. 

The biggest dangers are new opponents who weren’t in the Blue Point. Chief among them is #10 Tawalla (15-2), winner of three straight since Costa shortened him up on turf. #6 Kylian (8-1) enjoyed a productive winter on the British all-weather for Archie Watson, and he was highly regarded earlier in his career on turf. Their race fitness could be a decisive edge over defending champion #12 Frost at Dawn (16-1), who had been busy throughout the 2024 Dubai Carnival before springing the upset in this spot. #5 Jakajaro (31-1) was disappointing in the Blue Point, but more patient tactics are reportedly on tap this time, and you can never discount a Robert Cowell sprinter. It’s also tough to dismiss Shadwell veteran #3 Danyah (9-1) entirely, even if this is merely a bridge to the Al Quoz Sprint (G1) over an extra furlong on World Cup night. Winless since surprising the 2023 Al Quoz, he’s an unknown quantity going this short a trip. 

Singspiel (G2): Race 5, 11 a.m. ET

#7 Nations Pride (9-5), ninth as the favorite in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) at Gulfstream Park, hopes to turn the page back at the friendly confines of Meydan. But the Singspiel (G2) is still a tad sharp for him as an about 1 1/8-mile affair. Those are the same conditions as the Dubai Turf (G1) on World Cup night, where Nations Pride placed third back in 2023. Of course, the prep isn’t as deep as the main event, and Godolphin’s elite globetrotter could simply have too much class.

#4 First Conquest (2-1), a fellow son of Teofilo and stablemate from the Appleby yard, poses the opposite conundrum. He sports razor-sharp form and fits the conditions, but faces a stiffer class test. Godolphin’s top rider, William Buick, sticks with the proven class of Nations Pride. #6 Holloway Boy (15-1) should be a fraction of his morning-line price. While the Karl Burke pupil is win-shy, he’s usually involved, and his recent third to Hong Kong supremo Romantic Warrior in a course-record Jebel Hatta (G1) must be respected. #5 Galen (13-2) hasn’t prospered during the Carnival as anticipated, but he has run sneaky races under big weights in handicaps. Now he gets back to level weights in this third start of the season, which smacks of how Joseph O’Brien plotted it out. 

Al Maktoum Classic (G2): Race 6, 11:35 a.m. ET

#11 Imperial Emperor (7-2) continued his fine Carnival with a runner-up effort in the Al Maktoum Challenge (G1). As a longtime fan of this son of Dubawi and Zhukova, and close relative of Ghaiyyath, I hope that he can achieve a new career high here. Yet at the price, there are a couple of possible caveats. Last time out, he appeared to have stablemate Walk of Stars in his grasp before being rebuffed, and now he has to negotiate an extra half-furlong from a wide draw in post 15. Seemar had previously said that Imperial Emperor had to establish himself as a candidate for either the World Cup or the Godolphin Mile. We’ll know the answer after this audition over the about 1 1/4-mile distance of the World Cup. 

Another Seemar entrant, #1 Artorius (15-1), has been an underachiever ever since romping in the 2022 Curlin S. at Saratoga for original trainer Chad Brown. But the son of Arrogate could find new life on the switch to Dubai. He did finish a closer fourth in the Firebreak in his latest, beaten about 3 1/2 lengths by the shocking #13 King Gold (10-1), who thrived on a hot pace over the metric mile. The stretch-out is a question mark for both, but Artorius has arguably better claims to handle it, and he adds blinkers.

#6 Generous Tipper (17-2) and #12 Kabirkhan (9-2), respectively sixth and seventh in their comebacks in the Al Maktoum Challenge, promise to turn in more characteristic efforts. While the ex-Ken McPeek runner Generous Tipper brings American form, he also has a worse draw (post 14) than the Doug Watson-trained Kabirkhan (post 9). 

Dubai City of Gold (G2): Race 7, 12:10 p.m. ET

This about 1 1/2-mile stepping stone to the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) showcases another dynamic duo for Appleby. #7 Arabian Crown (9-5) has been sidelined since his sharp score in last April’s Sandown Classic Trial (G3), which stamped him as one of the leading hopes for Epsom. Stablemate #6 Silver Knott (9-5) hasn’t been off quite as long. Familiar to U.S. fans from his extended campaigns here, he was last seen placing third in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) at Aqueduct Sept. 28. Buick opts for Silver Knott, probably because Appleby has stated outright that Arabian Crown will come on for the run. Still, Arabian Crown had much loftier classic pretensions than Silver Knott ever did. 

Most of their opponents are fairly exposed veterans, with the striking exception of #2 Highway Robber (7-2). Formerly trained by Brian Lynch, the Jim and Susan Hill colorbearer has joined British trainer Charlie Hills. He left the U.S. on an upward curve, signing off by edging Appleby’s Bold Act in a course-record Sycamore (G3) at Keeneland.

Mahab al Shimaal (G3): Race 8, 12:45 p.m. ET

Last year’s Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) champion #11 Tuz (7-2) has been unstoppable throughout the current UAE season. If the Seemar charge can extend his streak on Saturday, he will achieve the unprecedented feat of sweeping the season’s dirt sprints – the Al Garhoud Sprint, Dubawi (G3), Al Shindagha Sprint (G3), and the Mahab al Shimaal (G3). 

But Tuz will meet an international challenger in Japanese-based three-year-old #12 American Stage (5-2), who gets a 10-pound weight break. A stablemate of Saudi Cup star Forever Young, the Yoshito Yahagi trainee is a perfect 3-for-3 at this about six-furlong trip. Of course, those wins all came in easier company against his own age group. He’s now being thrown in versus battle-hardened older sprinters in his black-type stakes debut, in addition to the usual learning curve of foreign travel. Yahagi’s representative, Yukihiko Araki, acknowledged that it’s a “big ask” but cited the colt’s “huge potential.” American Stage offers a pedigree angle, as an Into Mischief half-brother to smart sprinter Super Chow.

#3 Colour Up (13-2), second to Tuz in the past three divisional stakes, has more competition this time. #4 Drew’s Gold (12-1), third in the Al Shindagha in his first appearance since 2023, is entitled to improve. Lightly-raced #6 El Nasseeb (21-1) is worth a look as he goes turf-to-dirt for Musabbeh al Mheiri, who enters Super Saturday tied with Costa at the top of the UAE trainers’ standings.

Jumeirah 2000 Guineas: Race 9, 1:20 p.m. ET

#6 Ruling Court (9-5), the €2.3 million sale topper as a two-year-old in training at Arqana last May, resurfaces here for Appleby. After bolting up in his Sandown debut, the son of Justify was prominent in the antepost market for the Derby (G1) at Epsom. The bubble was burst by his ensuing third in the Acomb (G3) at York, but that form has stood up very well. Ruling Court won’t meet rivals on the order of The Lion in Winter or Wimbledon Hawkeye, and this figures to be a straightforward launching pad.

Stablemate #3 Hallasan (5-2) has done well in his two Carnival starts, most recently toppling Al Qudra (a next-out winner in Qatar), and the honest type will serve as a benchmark. Costa’s Abu Dhabi debut scorer #1 Daamiss (11-1) may have more upside than #8 The Fingal Raven (13-2), twice third in his common races with Hallasan. 

Good luck and enjoy Super Saturday!