With Japan seeking their fourth win in the last five years it is no surprise to see several of the Japanese trained runners at the fore of the market for the G1 Dubai Turf. The last two winners of the nine furlong race Vivlos (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Real Steel (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) are both back for more and they are joined by three others from Japan including the Noriyuki Hori trained Neorealism (Jpn) who was reported by his trainer on Thursday to have 'settled in well'. Neorealism will jump from stall 2 on Saturday and will again have the assistance of Joao Moreira, the Brazilian having partnered the entire to victory in the 2017 G1 Audemars Piguet QEII Cup at Sha Tin and also on his last start when second in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup at the same track last December.
Saeed Bin Suroor is hoping his charge Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) can make a successful breakthrough to Group 1 level but he will need to improve on his last time out defeat to fellow Godolphin colour-bearer Blair House (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) in the G1 Jebel Hatta on Super Saturday in order to do so. Benbatl had done everything right on his first two Carnival starts when winning the G3 Singspiel S. in January and the G2 Al Rashidiya in February and after cantering at Al Quoz on Thursday morning Bin Suroor was optimistic over his chances. “He was inconvenienced by a wide draw on Super Saturday but has a good gate in five this time. As I have said, this is a horse we have always really liked and, hopefully, he is going to run a big race on Saturday,” the trainer said. If the betting market is anything to go by Benbatl, currently the race favourite, is certainly expected to turn the tables on his re-opposing last time conqueror Blair House with Charlie Appleby's representative available at least three times the odds of Benbatl.
Despite a race record of only one win from 15 starts Lancaster Bomber (War Front) has achieved a rating of 117 and banked over €1-million in prizemoney and given he represents the powerful combination of Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore he commands automatic respect. He boasts some top class placed form and finished second three times at the top level in 2017 including twice behind World Approval (Northern Afleet) in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile and the GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile. “The distance, nine furlongs, might be as far as he wants to go, but the fast ground will be ideal for him,” O'Brien said on Thursday. “He is one of the highest-rated horses in the race and we think he will be competitive.”
Another European who could be somewhat under the radar is Monarch's Glen (GB) (Frankel {GB}) with John Gosden's 4-year-old tackling Group 1 company for the first time having worked his way quietly up the ranks throughout last season. He was last seen beating Robin Of Navan (Fr) (American Post {GB}) in the G3 Darley Club S. at Newmarket in October and his owner Khalid Abdullah's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe seemed happy after the horse worked on the Meydan grass track on Thursday morning. “We gelded him over the winter and that has made a difference. He has been straightforward and had a good progression,” Grimthorpe said. “He's travelled over well and we know he has to step up on Saturday. Looking at the ratings, he has a bit to find but not that much,” he added.
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