Dubai Carnival Contest V

[NoChanceToDance]

Originally Posted by PatCummings

I'm with you...I backed Jedi and thought he'd be tracking someone else, and was initially fearful when I saw him on the lead, but then laughed hysterically when I heard the fractions and thought it would be possible. The Euro-jockey holdup syndrome is something else...see also, Mirco Demuro taking 12 of them to the woodshed last year.

I didn't understand the pace of the races today, none were run at the usual gallop we can see in Dubai. It definitley paid to be on the speed today, with very few horses coming from far off the pace, apart from possibly Kinglet, who I think was probably the most eyecatching run of the day. For a horse who looked in need of every yard of a mile as a 2yo, dropping to seven furlongs on his 3yo debut on a new surface where the pace wasn't overly strong. Another few strides and he's won the race. The guineas is the obvious option, but I feel he'd be more suited to the UAE Derby, albeit that will be a stronger contest.

I was swearing at Hanagan during that race. I knew his chance had gone at halfway. Never given a chance. For a horse who connections have long said will stay well, why didn't they make it a good test of stamina. Especially when the fav (and winner) had never tried twelve furlongs before. I know, nor had Glen's, but he looked certain to improve with this extra distance. In the end the winner has had nothing more than a track gallop and the form shouldn't be trusted.

Mendip, well you can only say that was very very disappointing. He didn;t break with his usual fluency and was never travelling well enough to be ever called the likely winner. He might be set for a quiet year.

Alkimos........ I'm still scratching my head there. Surely, he's better than a 104 rated horse? on my figures I thought he was well worth a mark of 109-111.