Meydan Magic! Thursday Group 2 Action + 16/1 Treble

Meydan’s Dubai World Cup Carnival continues this week on Thursday, with Group 2 action in the form of the Singspiel Stakes and the first round of the Al Maktoum Challenge being the highlight of the card. With some extremely smart horses in attendance, including British staples, it’s a day not to be missed. For our British horse racing tips, check on site now, but here are three horses to look out for at Meydan on Thursday!

3.40pm – UAE 2000 Guineas Trial

The first of the big races is the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial, where Saeed bin Suroor’s FIRST VIEW puts his unbeaten record on the line under Christophe Soumillon. Both his wins were gained on the All-Weather at Kempton over the mile, with the latter success under a penalty showcasing his gritty attitude. He’s completely unexposed and will handle the dirt fine, which is an obvious positive. If taking another step forward after a small break, he’s the one they’ll all have to beat.

His biggest rival looks to be Commanding, who built on a promising debut when scoring readily over course and distance last month. He showed a fantastic turn of foot that day and is a likely improver for an in-form yard. That said, he’s drawn wide, which is a big negative. Saeed bin Suroor runs three in the race, with Laser Show another key contender. He was unable to score under a penalty on his second career start, but the winner looks useful and it would be no surprise to see him fill the frame.

Selection: FIRST VIEW (10/3)

4.15pm – Singspiel Stakes

The first of the Group 2 action, the Singspiel Stakes is run over the nine-furlong distance and features some extremely classy horses. Saeed bin Suroor and Godolphin hold all the aces in the shape of BENBATL and Dream Castle, with ready preference being for the former. He’s won three of his four course and distance starts, including this race and a subsequent Group 1 success.

He’s the class act in the contest and his dominant Group 2 win at Newmarket back in September proved he retained all his ability and had potentially improved even more. Excuses can be made for his blowout on British Champion’s Day and if anywhere near his best, it’s difficult to see how Dream Castle will be able to live with him. Granted, the second-string does also boast useful form, but he showed little in Australia when last seen in the autumn and that’s enough of a negative to oppose him.

Selection: BENBATL (1/2)

5.25pm – Al Maktoum Challenge R1

The first of the Al Maktoum Challenge races, this mile Group 2 features some of the world’s best horses and will be quite the spectacle for a Thursday evening. The favourite is seven-time course winner NORTH AMERICA, and it’s not hard to see why. His course record is outstanding and he won the first two rounds of last year’s Al Maktoum Challenge in grand style. He’s been absent since March, however, when he disappointingly blew out in the Dubai World Cup. The lack of race fitness isn’t so much of a concern, and he does boast the best form by quite some margin at his best. That makes him the obvious pick in a race where plenty have something to prove.

Winning two of his four starts at Meydan last winter, Munrazah scooped Group 3 honors over course and distance back in March. He was a shade disappointing in the Godolphin Mile thereafter, where he held little excuses for a flat performance. His record fresh does little to boost his chances and the lack of a run does make him very difficult to fancy at skinny odds.

Selection: North America (7/4)