African Story to take some stopping  

Dubai:  Saeed bin Suroor has dominated the Al Maktoum Challenge Round II in recent years, saddling five of the last six winners, and the Emirati trainer holds all the aces in this year’s renewal, the highlight of today’s card at Meydan.

Emirates Flyer, Prince Bishop and 2014 Dubai World Cup hero African Story carry Suroor’s hopes in the 11-runner event. Stable jockey James Doyle rides African Story, the highest-ranked runner in the field. The eight-year-old, not seen since out pulling off a surprise victory in the world’s richest race, is the class act in the line-up and if acting on the underfoot conditions on his dirt debut, he should take some stopping.

Prince Bishop, winner of the 2014 Al Maktoum Challenge Round II, returns after a five-month break and has to prove he can handle the conditions. Like African Story, he’s unproven on dirt. Being by Dubawi, Prince Bishop’s pedigree fuels confidence he’ll act on Meydan’s new surface. He has the benefit of a plum draw in stall No 2 and must be considered.

Doug Watson is the leading trainer at Meydan this term and has sound claims of capturing this prestigious prize with Cooptado, winner in Listed company on his seasonal debut here in December. The Argentinean-bred colt, the youngest horse in the line-up, showed a good attitude to get the better of Storm Belt and he should build on that.

Hat-trick chasing Surfer, game winner of Round I of the Al Maktoum Challenge, represents the powerful Satish Seemar/Richard Mullen partnership. He enjoyed a dream run last month. Jumping from a plum gate, he was always handy and kept on well in determined fashion to beat Frankyfourfingers.

The runner-up, trained by Salem bin Ghadayer, is fancied to turn the tables, having endured a tough trip from a wide draw on his Dubai debut for his new trainer. He’s should be sharper for the run – the five-year-old had last run in September 2014 before being sold at Arqana Arc Sale to race in the Middle East.

Le Bernardin earned a step up in grade after demolishing nine rivals in a handicap here last month. He won with plenty of authority and was value for his 4.75-length victory, leaving the impression he had more to offer. He can’t be underestimated and could reward backers at decent odds.

Seven days after winning the Al Rashidiya with stable star Vercingetorix, Mike de Kock will be hoping to bag another big prize with Al Idem in the UAE 1000 Guineas, the opening Classic of the year in Dubai. Returning from a lengthy break on her Dubai/dirt debut, she was nailed in the final strides by Local Time in a 1400m conditions race, the prep for this race. She’s fancied to take her revenge and give the South African handler his first victory in the Listed contest since Mahbooba took the 2011 renewal.

Local Time, one of two runners for Suroor – by far the most successful trainer in the race with eight wins since the inaugural running in 2001 – will be fancied by many to confirm the form with De Kock’s filly, particularly as the step up to 1600m is in her favour.

Unbeaten Yodelling, trained by Charlie Appleby and sporting the red cap of the Godolphin-owned trio, strikes as a filly who could make her mark on her first start at Meydan. She’s likely to act on dirt, being by top USA sire Medaglia D’oro, and looked an exciting prospect when scoring twice at Kempton last year.

Australian import Ajeeb can contribute to a good night for De Kock in the 1600m handicap on turf. He caught the eye on his comeback behind Hototo in a 1000m handicap last month, storming from the back of the field for fourth, beaten two lengths. It was an encouraging effort and the five-year-old will relish the step up in distance. He rates a solid bet in the hands of Christophe Soumillon.

The preceding staying handicap has attracted a big field, with Goodwood Cup runner-up Ahzeemah heading the weights on his local debut. He leads the local challenge for Godolphin and is fancied to provide the main threat to Star Empire, trained by De Kock. The veteran, third in last season’s Dubai Gold Cup, made a pleasing comeback behind Haafaguinea, showing the step up to 2810m from 2000m would play to his strengths, given he’s a strong stayer. He is taken to avenge last year’s narrow defeat to Excellent Result in the same race.