Recently crowned six-time UAE champion trainer Doug Watson saddled the trifecta in the 2016 $1-million G2 Godolphin Mile and he sends out a pair of runners in the 2017 edition–GII California S. hero Second Summer (Summer Bird) and Feb. 23 2000-metre Curlin H. victor Etijaah (Daaher). The former was only a nose shy of Furia Cruzada (Chi) (Newfoundland) in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R2 in his Meydan debut Feb. 2 before dropping to seventh in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3 on Super Saturday Mar. 4.
“Ideally both would prefer further,” Watson told the ERA notes team. “Hopefully there will be plenty of pace on to give them something to aim at.”
North America (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) has been a revelation since transferring to Meydan, breaking his maiden by eight lengths over track and trip Nov. 17 and doubling up in a handicap locally Dec. 29. The Satish Seemar trainee bested GSW Heavy Metal (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) in another handicap Jan. 12 and romped in the G3 Firebreak S. Feb. 11.
“He has been a real star and just kept on improving,” commented Seemar. “We expect another big run from him.”
Heavy Metal completed the superfecta in the Firebreak, but has rebounded in solid fashion, adding a brace of 1600-metre affairs, including the Mar. 4 G3 Burj Nahaar.
American invader and GISP Sharp Azteca (Freud) enters on the back of a 4 1/2-length victory in the GII Gulfstream Park H. Feb. 11 and is the most highly ranked horse at a mark of 115.
“We were delighted when we saw the draw as six is about where we would have picked,” said trainer Jorge Navarro. “He is really bouncing, seems in great form and is ready to run a big race on Saturday.”
Japanese Group 3 winner Kafuji Take (Jpn) (Precise End) is an intriguing prospect after a solid third in Tokyo's Feb. 19 G1 February S., while two-time G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R1 hero Le Bernardin (Bernardini) could make an impact if he rounds back into form after two unplaced efforts.
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