Safety First at Meydan

A contentious renewal of the G2 Al Fahidi Fort on Thursday will see reigning winner Safety Check (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire})–and last year's second Eastern Rules (Ire) (Golden Snake)–face off against the 2014 victor, the ever-competitive Anaerobio (Arg) (Catcher in the Rye {Ire}), over 1400 meters of the Meydan turf. Godolphin colorbearer Safety Check goes first-up here and went a perfect three-for-three at last year's carnival, including a win in the G2 Zabeel Mile. He made two starts in Britain over the summer, check in a respectable third in the G2 Lennox S. at Glorious Goodwood before faltering in 10th in Doncaster's G2 Park S. Sept. 12. Trainer Charlie Appleby indicated he is looking forward to returning the 5-year-old to Meydan, saying, “We know he goes really well at Meydan, where the style of racing really suits him. He ran really well in the Lennox at Goodwood but the ground went against him at Doncaster. Looking back at his record it really does appear he is at his best when he races around a turn, which was not the case at Doncaster. He is a typical son of Dubawi and getting stronger as he gets older. We would like to think he is the one to beat in a race he obviously won last year.”

Anaerobio seeks his first win since taking this two years ago, but the 8-year-old can often be counted upon to be there at the finish, and goes into this with a race under his girth this term–a close fourth in a course-and-distance handicap Jan. 7 where Eastern Rules filled second.

“We were very pleased with that return run,” said de Kock. “With a clear run he would probably have been second and he has been a great Carnival campaigner over a few years now, winning this race in 2014 being his obvious highlight. He is eight now but clearly in good heart and should run well.”

Anaerobio is one of four to be saddled by de Kock, whose haul also includes past Meydan winner Mastermind (SAf) (Var) and talented South African stakes winner Tellina (SAf) (Silvano {Ger}), who is making his local debut.