Last year's winner Mind Your Biscuits (Posse) returns to defend his crown in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen over six furlongs on the dirt and he forms part of a three strong American challenge for the race. Despite his course record and recent form which appears on a par with last year following a last time out second in an allowance race at Gulfstream Park last month, Mind Your Biscuits is the market's third choice behind his fellow American challengers as a he bids to become the highest earning New York bred horse in history. The 5-year-old entire has appeared on good terms with himself in the mornings throughout this week as he reacquainted himself with Meydan and after some gate work and paddock schooling on Wednesday his trainer Chad Summers expressed his satisfaction with his preparation saying, “He was good. A little hot but not bad at all.”
Heading the betting for the Golden Shaheen is Roy H (More Than Ready) and it is hard to be negative about the gelding's win prospects. He was a dual Grade I winner last year, enjoying a brilliant autumn when he landed the GI Santa Anita Sprint Championship S. in October and the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint at Del Mar, both over six furlongs on dirt. He proved his recent well-being by thrashing his opponents in the GII Palos Verdes S. at Santa Anita on Feb. 3 and it is easy to see why his trainer Peter Miller is brimming with confidence. “He is doing great,” Miller said. “We're just hoping he will run his race and have a little luck on Saturday. If he does, he should win.”
Roy H is part owned by Rockingham Ranch who are also partners in X Y Jet (Kantharos) and this gelding gives his owners a very strong hand. He proved his affinity with Meydan when beaten a neck into second by Muarrab (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in this race two years ago and has gained nice confidence boosting victories in lesser company on his last three starts. His trainer Jorge Navarro has given X Y Jet an easy time of it this week and said, “Everything is good. I have done enough with him before the race and I'm not going to do anything else. I just want to keep him happy.”
The domestic team face a strong challenge to keep this prize at home. The Fawzi Nass trained Jordan Sport (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) booked his ticket with a wide margin win in the G3 Mahab Al Shimaal on Super Saturday but needs to find more in this company while there will surely be no more popular winner should Reynaldothewizard (Speightstown) manage to defy father time and claim the prize. The 12-year-old is a Carnival institution at this stage but he showed he could still be competitive when third to My Catch (Ire) (Camacho {GB}) in the G3 Al Shindagha Sprint Feb. 8 and his trainer Satish Seemar is hoping to coax another big performance from Reynaldo. “I'm very happy with him,” Seemar said. “Because of his experience and the fact he's the resident boss around the stable, he knows too much. So sometimes we have to cheat him into doing his best work at home. We take him the other way round, or start him off at different positions on the track, for instance. However he knows that when we put on the blinkers, he's supposed to do his best work.”
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