Frankie’s back! Take a look at Dettori’s 4 rides at the Dubai Carnival on Thursday

Vazirabad wins the Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan

Many people will be looking forward to Gowran Park on Thursday and for good reason too. The venue hosts the Thyestes Handicap, one of the most competitive chases of the season. There’s also the small matter of the Grade 2 Galmoy Hurdle, where Great White Shark takes on Darasso and Sixshooter.

We’ll have horse racing tips for all the action, but Meydan also hosts top class racing on Thursday. The feature contest in the UAE 1000 Guineas, where Saeed bin Suroor bids for a remarkable 12th win in the race.

It also sees the return of the legendary Frankie Dettori, who has four rides on the card! You can find all the info about his rides below, after he landed a pair of winners on last Thursday’s card.

3.40: Zabeel Turf Presented By Longines

1m 2f / Listed Handicap (3y0+ 90-104)

The best of the action kicks off with a highly competitive ten-furlong handicap. Godolphin dominates the race, with seven of the 15 entrants donning the royal blue silks.

High End is Dettori’s first mount has been absent since a second-place finish in a Goodwood Listed event in September. That sort of form gives him an excellent chance in a handicap contest off this sort of mark.

Both Star Safari and Passion And Glory were last time out winners, but have been off the track for 336 and 461 days respectively. Royal Marine is a classy and well-handicapped horse on a losing streak spanning back to October 2018, but has to be considered an each-way danger too.

Away from Godolphin, Cape Cavalli runs for Simon Crisford and was last seen finishing second over nine furlongs here back in January. He bumped into a runaway winner that day and remains on a handy mark, especially up in distance.

Don’t rule out Seniority either, who finished second in a Grade 3 at Abu Dhabi in March 2020. That was over eleven furlongs and he likely needed the run over an inadequate seven furlongs earlier this month. Back up in distance, he can have a big say off a tempting rating.

4.15: Cape Verdi Presented By Longines

1m / Group 2 (Fillies & Mares)

Another race, another Godolphin battalion ready to pounce. In fact, the top four horses in terms of ratings are in blue. The unexposed one is Last Look, who is a perfect three from three. She’s been absent since August 2019, however, and Saeed bin Suroor looks to have stronger options.

He also runs Stunning Beauty, ridden by Dettori, who is unbeaten from a pair of novice runs in England in the summer. That form has worked out very well and she’s the chief danger from the yard. Dubai Love is another to consider, having taken Listed honours over course and distance at the 2020 Carnival. She lacks the potential of her two stablemates, however.

The standard is set by Charlie Appleby’s Summer Romance, who was a Group 3 winner at Epsom in July. She was poor in a Group 1 at Deauville when last seen, but she’s a likely pace angle and would be dangerous if allowed a soft lead.

The one to beat, in terms of ratings, is stable-mate Althiqa, who arrives on the back of three placed efforts in Group 3 company. She’s been a shade unlucky on occasion and her profile is steadily progressive. A strong pace should set up the race for her, especially on just her second start over the mile.

4.50: UAE 1000 Guineas

1m / Listed Race (Fillies)

The feature race is, of course, the UAE 1000 Guineas. It’s a race that Saeed bin Suroor has dominated and that means Soft Whisper needs the utmost attention. Unsurprisingly, she’s ridden by Dettori.

Second on her opening two starts, she’s left that form well behind since, completing a hat-trick with an authoritative victory in the Listed trial race earlier this month. She’s entitled to plenty of respect as a result and is the one to beat, but this won’t be a walk in the park for her.

Mnasek made a winning seven-furlong debut at Meydan in December, defeating Nayefah by nearly seven lengths. That was an eye-catching performance and there is no telling just how good she could be. Super Chianti was another debut winner, scoring over six furlongs in November by also defeating Nayefah. She only did so by three quarters of a length, however, and does have stamina to prove up in distance.

Longines Spirit Collection Trophy

1m / Handicap (3yo+ 90-105)

Dettori’s final mount of the evening is Bedouin’s Story, a handicap winner at York back in July 2019 off nine pounds lower. He’s been absent since October of the same year, however, and this is a big absence to overcome.

Escobar is the top weight and landed the 2019 Balmoral Handicap on British Champions Day off his current rating. He’s entitled to a huge amount of respect as a result, while Count Of Amazonia is set to benefit from a strong end to end gallop alongside Cap Francais, who is likely to thunder home.

This is a highly competitive event and it’s difficult to rule out the majority of the field. Fifth in the Cambridgeshire when last seen, Dubai Mirage will relish the test and after just seven starts, he’s very much unexposed and holds a strong chance under Hector Crouch.