Racing Post...
Duty Free winner Jay Peg runs on Thursday By Jason Ford2.30PM 19 JAN 2009
DUBAI Duty Free winner Jay Peg adds a real touch of class to Thursday's meeting at the Dubai Carnival, which is likely to feature a nine-race card after a massive entry and the addition of two extra turf races.
The designated highlight is the Group 3 Al Shindagha Sprint, but the $200,000 contest may have to share top billing with the 71/2f turf handicap in which Jay Peg is set to reappear for Herman Brown.
The trainer is looking for a hat-trick in the $175,000 event after scoring with Great Rhythm and Linngari.
Jay Peg, who hasn't run since taking the Group 1 Singapore Airlines International Cup in May, will have to concede weight all round and Brown expects him to improve for the outing.
"He is certainly not 100 per cent fit but that is part of the reason for running him to continue his preparation," said Brown.
"As we saw last year he is a horse who tends to need a run or two and he has been off since his win in Singapore back in May. Obviously he is a year older and we expect him to come on a lot for the outing but he worked well at the weekend and I like running horses fresh over short of their best. I would be hopeful rather than confident."
The Al Shindagha Sprint over 6f on dirt will feature a clash between recent Nad Al Sheba winners Big City Man and Force Freeze.
The latter's trainer Doug Watson will also saddle Barbecue Eddie, fourth in last year's Golden Shaheen, one place behind the Rashed Bouresly-trained Star Crowned, who reopposes.
The former Richard Hannon-trained Asset could make his dirt debut for Saeed Bin Suroor, while Mike De Kock, who won the race last year with Asiatic Boy, has entered Diana's Choice. Dandy Nicholls has two possibles in Strike Up The Band and Northern Fling.
Balthazaar's Gift, who has joined Rod Simpson from Luca Cumani, heads the weights for the 61/2f turf handicap, in which the Joanna Morgan-trained Miss Gorica will bid for a quick follow-up after last week's victory.
With 43 entered and a maximum field of only 12, this race looks set to divide.
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