The striking 4-year-old chestnut colt seeks to stake his claim as the top dirt horse in the world, while also taking home the $10 million first-place prize money. Standing in the Bob Baffert trainee's way will be Brad Cox-conditioned Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) and Pegasus World Cup (G1) winner Knicks Go, as well as Champions Cup (G1) winner Chuwa Wizard, Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (G2) victor Military Law and battle-hardened American G2 winners Tacitus and Sleepy Eyes Todd.
Owned by the team of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Frederick Hertrich III, John D. Fielding and Golconda Stables, Charlatan has been gingerly campaigned, to say the least, starting four times and crossing the wire first in all. He was disqualified from his six-length drubbing of the G1 Arkansas Derby last May for a medication violation, his third start, but returned seven months later to rub out a salty Malibu Stakes (G1) renewal over four graded stakes winners.
Bred by Stonestreet and purchased by SF Bloodstock and Starlight for $700,000 at Keeneland's 2018 September Yearling Sale, the son of Speightstown and Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) third Authenticity has crossed the line ahead of his foes by an average 6.6 lengths per race and has been wowing onlookers in his preparation at Santa Anita Park in California.
"He's in beast mode right now," said Tom Ryan, principal of SF Racing and SF Bloodstock. "He's happy and healthy. As Speightstowns often do, he's getting better with age. I personally believe he's an enormous talent (and) 2021 will hopefully be a career-defining year for him. Speed and versatility is what separates the good from the great horses and when you see him, you will understand why we reached for him as a yearling.
"This colt was raised on one of the world's finest nurseries, Stonestreet Farm, which in my estimation is one of the leading breeders of the modern era--a trend we're likely to see continue. He is without question the most spectacular of his breed, he moved with incredible efficiency and everything was effortless for him."
Knicks Go is coming off one-sided performances in both the Breeders' Cup and Pegasus--two races in which he went to the lead and barely saw another horse. From a speed figure standpoint, the pair are quite close, as Knicks Go earned a 108 for his Pegasus win, compared to a 107 for Charlatan's Malibu--both eased up at the finish--and each earned Equibase Speed Figures of 115 for those efforts. The clash between two horses trying to lay claim to the same title is not lost on anyone, much less connections.
"Knicks Go is a sensational racehorse," Ryan concluded. "He also seems to be improving with time. Two very fast animals with the ability to cruise through very fast fractions will make for a very interesting race."
The post position draw, which will obviously prove crucial, takes place on site on Wednesday, Feb. 17.
Kinross Gets A Second Go At Lord Glitters
Marc Chan's well-regarded Kinross will get a second chance at a good Dubai impression on Thursday when the 4-year-old son of Kingman starts in the Group 2 Al Rashidiya, a turf course and 1800m distance prep for the Group 1 $4 million Dubai Turf in just over six weeks.
Three weeks ago, the bay Ralph Beckett trainee was a disappointing sixth of nine (as 15/2 third market choice) after encountering traffic problems in the course and distance Singspiel (G2)--a race won by 2019 Queen Anne (G1) conqueror Lord Glitters (8/1 fourth market choice). The dual winner from eight starts and respectable 2000 Guineas (G1) sixth seeks a return to the form that saw him land Kempton's Hyde Stakes (Listed) three months ago in excellent style over Khuzaam.
"We are looking forward to Thursday," Beckett said. "I think it's likely that Kinross will be more competitive this time than the first time in Dubai. I think he's got into a good rhythm in the last fortnight and we were pleased with his six-furlong work on the training track grass last Wednesday (Feb. 3). He should be competitive."
Kinross will have to step up to his optimum to match the form of Elwick Stud's Lord Glitters, who was third in Almond Eye's 2019 Dubai Turf. The David O'Meara pupil looked in his element over nine furlongs of flat, good Meydan going--just as on Dubai World Cup day two years ago--easily dismissing his Singspiel rivals and those who suspected Father Time had caught up with the 8-year-old ghostly son of Whipper.
"He's coping fine with winter in Dubai," O'Meara said. "He's cantered away and had a few spins on the grass since he last ran. He doesn't take a lot of work between races. I'm never confident going into any race, but he's got a 1.5kg penalty for a reason and hopefully he can be competitive again under it.
"Nine furlongs around a bend does suit him very well," O'Meara continued. "He's had two goes at it--a win and a third in the Dubai Turf--so I would say it's about his best trip at the moment. He'll run hopefully in the Jebel Hatta (G1, March 6) and Dubai Turf (G1, March 27) after this race on Thursday."
Both of the aforementioned will compete for favouritism with Singspiel runner-up Zakouski, who has done little wrong in seven lifetime starts, including a win in last year's Zabeel Mile (G2). Last out, he was simply outkicked by Lord Glitters, but has every right to progress.
Godolphin's 2019 Al Rashidiya winner Dream Castle, Royal Ascot victor Bless Him, G3-placed Court House and Ed Walker-trained handicapper Cap Francais complete the lineup.
Mouheeb Straight To UAE Derby, Passes On Saudi
HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Mouheeb, winner of last week's Group 3 UAE 2000 Guineas, will decline his invitation to the $1.5 million Saudi Derby (Feb. 20) and instead point directly to the Group 2 $750,000 UAE Derby at Meydan (March 27)--a race that awards 170 Kentucky Derby qualification points (100 to winner). It is believed that Salem bin Ghadayer's Meshakel, whom the son of Flatter defeated by a neck in the one-mile Guineas, may take his place in the starting gate in Riyadh.
The Nicholas Bachalard trainee is a head from being undefeated in three starts. A 2 3/4-length winner on debut over subsequent multi-winner Hurry Up on Dec. 18, he returned four weeks later in the UAE Guineas Trial, where he battled the top-rated sophomore male in Dubai, Rebel's Romance, to a head margin. He returned for his third run in seven weeks in last week's eye-catching triumph. There is a 16-day gap between the Guineas and Saudi Derby.
"He will head directly to the UAE Derby and miss the Saudi Derby," said Mohamed Saeed Al Shahi, racing manager for HH Sheikh Ahmed. "He came out of the race well, but His Highness, myself and Nicholas felt he had two tough races and we need to give him a bit more time with the UAE Derby being his main target."
Bachalard added: "We thought he had room to progress between his races and he did. I wasn't sure how much, but he definitely has improved with every run. We think he can handle the added distance in the Derby. We were strongly considering the Saudi Derby, but we just felt that the race took too much out of him and we'll wait."
Godolphin's Charlie Appleby-trained Rebel's Romance is expected for the Saudi Derby and will likely vie for favouritism with American import Cowan, Japanese invader France Go de Ina and possibly Saeed bin Suroor-trained UAE 1000 Guineas (Listed) winner Soft Whisper.
Quip, Milers Stretch Out In Maktoum Round 2
Thursday's Group 2 $293,000 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 over 1900m (9.5f) has drawn a field filled with questions soon to be answered on the road to the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1). Many of those queries circulate around the conditions of the race, whether it be the dirt surface for turf-bred full-brothers Dubai Warrior and Mootasadir, class-level for Firnas, Mark of Approval and Ajuste Fiscal, or the distance for assumed milers Quip, Salute the Soldier, Thegreatcollection, Blown By Wind and Capezzano.
RRR Racing's 6-year-old Quip offers arguably the most intrigue on Thursday. A Satish Seemar trainee, the 2019 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) winner makes just his 15th start and second this season after finishing a non-threatening ninth last out in the Al Maktoum Challenge R1 (G2) at one mile. He does have a victory in lofty American company over nine furlongs, but has not raced to that form in three Dubai tries. That said, with his light campaigning, a fitness-building race under his belt and a change of equipment, it would not be a surprise to see him jump back into the win column.
"Quip is training really well," said Bhupat Seemar, assistant trainer. "He has blinkers on the first time. All the speed horses are drawn on the inside, so it's unfortunately not the best draw in eight. With how he's training and what he does in the morning--if he can bring that in the evening--he's going to go very, very close. Hopefully that's what's going to happen."
Drawn on the rail is the speed of the speed in the race, Capezzano, who has not shown much prowess beyond one mile since winning the 2019 Al Maktoum Challenge R3 (G1) over 10 furlongs and a speed-favouring course. In fact, his only performance to that level in five subsequent starts was a stakes record-setting win in last year's one-mile Firebreak (G3).
Meanwhile, ultra-consistent 2020 Burj Nahaar (G3) winner Salute the Soldier is racing 200m farther than he ever has for trainer Fawzi Nass and Doug Watson-trained Thegreatcollection steps up after a pair of career-best runs over one mile, including a second in Round 1.
"The post (seven) doesn't really matter too much with him, as I think they will spread out a bit," Watson said. "I believe he will stay the trip. His dam won over 1800m."
Blown By Wind is an unknown quantity over these conditions. A handicapper who consistently competed at a mile in the UK for Mark Johnston, he was turned over to Salem bin Ghadayer, who also trains Capezzano and Listed winner Firnas, and rewarded the yard with an overpowering four-length win in the Jebel Ali Mile (G3) in his second local start. Though his rating has inflated to 110, he must back it up while stretching out an additional 300m and against G2 company. He was flattered when the runner-up that day, Secret Ambition, returned to win last week's Firebreak (G3) by open lengths.
Much focus will be on Dubai Warrior, who leads the ratings at 115, but has never been tested on traditional dirt. A six-time winner on all-weather, including the G3 Winter Derby in 2020 over Saudi Cup-bound Bangkok, the John Gosden trainee must overcome a pedigree that appears a bit counterintuitive to the venture.
