Saturday's G2 UAE Derby, won last year by G1 Dubai World Cup aspirant Thunder Snow (GB) (Helmet {Aus}), offers the winner 100 points and a guaranteed spot in the gate five weeks down the road in the GI Kentucky Derby. GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy) and Gold Town (GB) (Street Cry {Ire}), representing Coolmore and Godolphin, respectively, are set to do battle and appear–on paper, at least–to hold most of the aces.
The $3-million sales topper at Keeneland September in 2016, Mendelssohn, the half-brother to multiple champion Beholder (Henny Hughes) and top sire Into Mischief (Harlan's Holiday), was a bit of a late bloomer in 2017, having finished second at 50-1 in the G1 Dewhurst S. in October ahead of a perfect-trip victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. In a single start this term, the bay got out in the stretch and edged away late to best stablemates Threeandfourpence (War Front) and Seahenge (Scat Daddy) in the Listed Patton S. at Dundalk Mar. 9. The late Scat Daddy was represented by Daddy Long Legs, one of consecutive UAE Derby winners for Aidan O'Brien, in 2012.
By contrast, Godolphin has sent out eight winners of the race, including the aforementioned Thunder Snow. Gold Town, by the 2001 UAE Derby runner-up, has been a revelation on the dirt this season, winning the UAE 2000 Guineas trial by better than four lengths and the Guineas by 10 1/2 lengths.
Reride (Candy Ride {Arg}) is perfect in two outs this term, including a defeat of subsequent GIII Sunland Derby winner Runaway Ghost (Ghostzapper) in the Feb. 25 Mine That Bird Derby in New Mexico. Rayya (Tiz Wonderful) was second to Thunder Snow's half-sister Winter Lightning (Ire) (Shamardal) in the Feb. 8 UAE 1000 Guineas, but managed to soundly defeat that one into third when last seen in the G3 UAE Oaks over the Derby trip Mar. 1.
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