Safety First?

Godolphin’s Safety Check (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) failed to make an impact at last year’s carnival racing exclusively on the Tapeta, but the switch back to the turf appears to have revived the 4-year-old, who looks for his third straight score in today’s G2 Zabeel Mile. The Charlie Appleby trainee enjoyed two successes going seven furlongs on the grass in Britain in the summer, and was sixth in Newbury’s Listed Dubai Duty Free Cup Sept. 19 to wrap up his European season. He was the cozy 2 3/4-length victor of a seven-furlong turf handicap here Jan. 8, and extended his record with a decisive four-length score in the G2 Al Fahidi Fort over the same track and trip Jan. 22. The 5-year-old gelding Dark Emerald (Ire)(Dark Angel {Ire}) has been progressive of late for trainer Brendan Powell, and hasn’t finished out of the top two in his last six starts. He was second in a handicap over this course and distance to kick off his campaign Jan. 15, and recorded back-to-back handicap scores on the lawn Feb. 5 and Feb. 19. He tries black-type company for the first time in almost three years. Outstrip (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) hasn’t won since taking the 2013 GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, but he is nonetheless an interesting proposition. He came home last in the G1 2000 Guineas on seasonal debut last year, but then was third and fourth, beaten 3 1/4 lengths and three lengths, behind Kingman (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in the G1 St James’s Palace S. and G1 Sussex S. He was eighth in the G2 Joel S. to wrap up his British campaign Sept. 26, and was a well-beaten 11th when trying the dirt in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R1 Jan. 8. He should enjoy the return to his favored surface and trip. Johann Strauss (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}), a recent purchase by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa and partners from the Coolmore partners, flew late to be second in the Listed HH The President Cup at Abu Dhabi Feb. 15 off a nine-month layoff, and there is no reason to think he won’t improve with the seasoning. Formerly trained by Aidan O’Brien, Johann Strauss was regarded well enough to contest the G1 Racing Post Trophy as a maiden (he was second) and the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas eight days after breaking his maiden (he was fourth).