Clash of international stars in Sheema Classic

Despite only attracting nine runners, the Dubai Sheema Classic looks an extremely competitive contest, with Group/Grade 1 winners in the USA, Japan, Canada, Hong Kong, Ireland and France set to lock horns. A pair of Classic-winning Japanese raiders will bid to present the Land of the Rising Sun with a fourth victory, following in the illustrious footsteps of Gentildonna (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Heart’s Cry (Jpn) (Sunday Silence), and Stay Gold (Jpn) (Sunday Silence). Ryan Moore, who was on board Gentildonna a year ago, will attempt to work his magic on Harp Star (Jpn) this time. The 4-year-old is drawn widest of all, which shouldn’t prove a major hindrance as her best form, including when sixth in the 2014 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, was produced when coming from the rear of the field.

Flaxman Holdings’ Main Sequence is yet to taste defeat in five outings since transferring to the barn of Graham Motion, and tuned up for this assignment with a smooth Grade 2 victory at Gulfstream Park Feb. 21. Motion has expressed himself pleased with his charge’s progress, who was mostly kept to the secluded surroundings of the training track due to his ‘nervous’ nature. Khalid Abdullah’s Flintshire (GB) bids to turn the tables on the Niarchos homebred, which he chased home in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf. The Andre Fabre trainee gained compensation on his next outing, taking the G1 Hong Kong Vase in commanding fashion, and warmed up for this event with a second to fellow French raiderDolniya (Fr) in a conditions race on Chantilly’s all-weather track. Racing Manager Teddy Grimthorpe commented this week, “I hadn’t seen him since he ran in Chantilly and he certainly has trimmed down a bit more and seems very relaxed.” The Aga-Khan color-bearer Dolniya has impressed onlookers in her Meydan workouts, and trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre has reported the 4-year-old, who was a Group 2 winner last season before running fifth in the Arc, to have matured physically and mentally.

Hong Kong champion Designs On Rome (Ire) bids to continue his winning streak with the assistance of ‘Magic’ Joao Moreira, who partnered John Moore’s charge to victory in his last three outings including the G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup Mar. 1. The 5-year-old failed to shine on his only previous attempt at a mile and a half, in a Hong Kong Listed event, yet Moore has voiced little concern about the trip, telling the South China Morning Post, “From what I understand there isn’t any speed in the race and a slowly-run race might be more like a 2000-meter race than 2400 meters as far as stamina goes.”