Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby have taken the last two renewals of the G2 Al Fahidi Fort at Meydan with Safety Check (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), and the team relies on Flash Fire (Ire) (Shamardal) to make it a hat trick in Thursday's latest renewal of the 1400-metre turf feature. The 5-year-old gelding won Ascot's Victoria H. in May before failing to hit the board in five subsequent outings in Britain over the summer. Returning off more than four months' rest and a gelding operation in a handicap over this track and trip Jan. 5, Flash Fire was an authoritative winner under William Buick. “Obviously we have done well in this race the last two years,” said Charlie Appleby. “Flash Fire is a horse we have always held in high regard and he won the Victoria Cup back in England after performing well at last year's Carnival. He was quite impressive winning on his comeback, after having been gelded, and suggesting he is well worth this big step-up in class.”
Mike de Kock saddled Anaerobio (Arg) (Catcher in the Rye {Ire}) to win this race in 2014, and he brings the 9-year-old back off a comeback seventh behind Flash Fire two weeks ago. De Kock also saddles Noah From Goa (SAf) (Tiger Ridge), winner of the G1 Cape Guineas in 2015 and last seen finishing third in last year's G1 L'Ormarins Queen's Plate in January before making the long trek from South Africa to Dubai.
“We have two nice runners,” said de Kock. “Anaerobio is back for another Carnival and has won here in 2013, 2014 and 2016. He ran well on his recent comeback and won this race, which we have done well in over the years, for us in 2014. We were pleased with his comeback and he should be spot on for this, whereas Noah From Goa is going to improve for the outing having been off for more than a year and having endured the arduous trip to get to Dubai. He should run well but we expect him to progress throughout the Carnival.”
Also sending out a pair of runners is UK-based trainer David Simcock. He fields Dark Emerald (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), a winner at last year's carnival over this course and distance, and Dragon Mall (Blame), most recently third over this trip at Chelmsford Dec. 22.
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