An Exercise Worth Repating

Sheikh Mohammed Khaleel Ahmed’s Anaerobio (Arg) (Catcher In the Rye {Ire}) will face nine others as he looks to successfully defend his title in the G2 Al Fahidi Fort S., the featured event on the third meeting of the Dubai International Racing Carnival tonight at Meydan. 

The 7-year-old entire has made half of his 26 career starts at Meydan and was the easy winner of a seven-furlong handicap two weeks prior to his 3/4-length defeat of Mshawish (Medaglia d’Oro) in this event last winter. He was third two starts later behind his stablemate Vercingetorix (SAf) (Silvano {Ger}) in the G1 Jebel Hatta S. over 1800 meters and will be having his first run since finishing better than 10 lengths behind Just a Way (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}) in the G1 Dubai Duty Free S. Mar. 29. 

“Anaerobio is as honest as the day is long. He’s a genuine, capable horse and he’s doing well, he should run well again,” trainer Mike de Kock commented on his website. 

The Al Fahidi Fort also marks the international debut of the De Kock-trained Red Ray (SAf) (Western Winter), winner of four of his 10 starts in South Africa. Campaigned by prominent owners Ingrid and Markus Jooste, the 4-year-old defeated Horse of the Year Legislate (SAf) (Dynasty {SAf}) in the G3 Cape Classic and has been placed three times at the highest level, including a third in the 2013 Cape Guineas and runner-up efforts when well bet in the Cape Flying Championship last January and in the Golden Horse Sprint in May. 

“Red Ray has a big reputation and he’s showed us his talent in work, he is doing very well,” de Kock stated. “He steps into international Group 2 company after being shipped from South Africa and all our new arrivals have been short of their best, but if he reproduces his work he will contest the finish, we are hoping for a big run.” 

Godolphin’s Safety Check (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) steps up in class off an impressive first-up victory in a course-and-distance handicap at the opening meeting of the Carnival and picks up the services of stable jockey William Buick. All but one of his six career tallies have come at tonight’s trip. The Mick Halford-trained Eastern Rules (Ire) (Golden Snake) looks up against it on paper, but his one Meydan appearance resulted in a good-looking victory over a next-out winner andZahee (NZ) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) last February.