By Alan Carasso
Contested as a six-furlong listed race for its first two runnings with a dirt crossing at Nad Al Sheba, the Al Quoz Sprint, upgraded to Group 1 status in 2012, has been run over the minimum 1000-metre trip since its switch to Meydan in 2016. Officials at the Dubai Racing Club took the decision to lengthen the Al Quoz back out to the 1200m, making this year's event an interesting exercise in handicapping.
There has been no more dominant turf sprinter at the Carnival the last two seasons than Ertijaal (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who is five for six since focusing on trips up to 1200m, his lone defeat coming in a tough 3/4-length defeat at the hands of Australian raider Buffering (Aus) (Mossman {Aus}) in last year's Al Quoz. The bay carried 132 pounds and gave his rivals a 1 3/4-length beating in a Jan. 5 handicap over five panels and shot clear to best Jungle Cat (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) by 2 3/4 lengths in the G3 Meydan Sprint Feb. 16. The form was franked when the latter defeated his stablemate Baccarat (Ire) (Dutch Art {GB}) and The Right Man (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in the Nad al Sheba Turf Sprint, a course-and-distance conditions prep for the Al Quoz on Super Saturday Mar. 4. The chief query as regards Ertijaal is his aptitude over this slightly longer trip, but jockey Jim Crowley doesn't see it as an issue.
“He has won over 1400m, both in England and Abu Dhabi,” said Crowley. “He was still galloping strongly at the line on his latest 1000m victory and I do not see the extra 200m being any problem, but it is a stronger race.”
Limato (Ire) (Tagula {GB}) returns to six furlongs for the first time since validating 9-2 favoritism in last year's G1 Darley July Cup at Newmarket. Winner two starts later of the G1 Qatar Prix de la Foret (1400m) at Longchamp, the bay was a latest sixth as the somewhat surprising favorite in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita last November.
“His owner, Paul Jacobs, and I watched him on the track on Wednesday and when he worked earlier in the week and he looks in great shape,” offered Limato's regular rider Harry Bentley.
Washington DC (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) looks another who might prefer the five-furlong dash, though he ran with credit when third in the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and when fifth behind Limato in the July Cup. Runner-up in the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye on Arc weekend at Chantilly, he was most recently an even seventh at 6-1 in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.
Hong Kong has been represented by two Al Quoz winners at Meydan–Joy and Fun (NZ) (Cullen {Aus}, 2010) and the speedball Amber Sky (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}, 2014). Amazing Kids (NZ) (Falkirk {NZ}) enters this year's running as something of an unknown with some subtle things in his favor. The Southern Hemisphere 5-year-old is perfect in two recent tries down the 1000-metre straight at Sha Tin, having shouldered 132 pounds en route to an easy win in the G3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy Jan. 8. Less effective around a bend, he was fourth to multiple Al Quoz placegetter Peniaphobia (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) in the G2 Centenary Sprint Cup Jan. 30. He has since trialled well and this trip, without having to negotiate a turn, figures to hit him right between the eyes.
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