Classy Brundtland hard to beat

It is hard to oppose Brundt-land on his UAE debut in today’s Nad Al Sheba Trophy at Meydan – the key trial for the $1.5-million Dubai Gold Cup on World Cup night.

Trained by the all-conquering Charlie Appleby, Brundtland enjoyed a stellar campaign last year, highlighted by his victories on French soil in the Prix Neil and Prix Chaudenay on Arc weekend.

He has the assistance of William Buick and the Dubawi colt will take plenty of beating in the Group 3 feature race that lacks depth.

The unexposed Ispolini, one of four runners representing Go-dolphin, looks the main threat to stable companion Brundtland in a race the Dubai operation have won six of the last eight renewals.

Ispolini made amends for a narrow defeat in a muddling race on his Meydan debut in early January when landing a valuable course-and-distance handicap in good style on his most recent appearance.

Baroot and South African import Hermoso Mundo represent Mike de Kock in Race 6, the District One World Class Run Handicap.

The last-named, a winner of the Gold Cup in Durban, will be ridden by Bernard Fayd’Herbe and is likely to need the run following a lengthy layoff.

Baroot, a five-time winner at Meydan, has been running well.

Typically, Godolphin, who have dominated handicaps at the carnival this year, provide the biggest challenge with recent winner Mountain Hunter, trained by Saeed bin Suroor. He remains on a competitive mark and has the assistance of French champion jockey Christophe Soumillon.

Mountain Hunter’s stable companion Desert Fire remains unexposed and is entitled to respect, having bumped into a useful rival when finishing second here recently. He could find further improvement in a first-time visor.

The Curlin Handicap (Listed), named in honour of the 2008 Dubai World Cup winner, sees top-weight Saltarin Dubai return – chasing back-to-back wins in the 2000m event on dirt.

Largely out of sorts for most of the winter until scoring over today’s course and distance fi ve weeks ago, he showed a likeable attitude to prevail in a close finish from subsequent Jebel Ali Stakes (Listed) winner Montsarrat, with the re-opposing Dolkong close-up in third.

Provided Saltarin Dubai breaks smartly and can secure his customary front-running role, Satish Seemar’s charge has strong claims of following up in a race in which many of his rivals are out of sorts and struggling for form.

Dolkong, trained by Simon Foster, carries the hopes of Korea and appreciated the drop in class a er failing to make an impact behind North America in Round I of the Al Maktoum Challenge.

He is weigh-ted to get his revenge with Saltarin Dubai and commands respect.

Doug Watson, the leading trainer at Meydan, saddles course specialist Galvanize. He can bounce back a er a lacklustre performance behind Saltarin Dubai as he is nicely drawn for a horse that attacks from the front.

Ahmad bin Harmash’s Golden Jaguar, unbeaten in two starts, will be popular with punters in the Meydan Classic (Listed) in the hands of Connor Beasley, a rider that has enjoyed plenty of success at Meydan this season.

The US-bred colt made a big impression in the trial last month, overcoming a tardy start and a wide trip to keep his perfect record intact.

He quickened impressively in the closing stages to account for Irish Trilogy and Sporting Chance and is fancied to uphold the form with the runner-up and third, who both renew rivalry.

Appleby, successful with Zaman 12 months ago, has a leading player in the shape of lightly raced Good Fortune, the mount of a red-hot rider William Buick.

Zaman arrives in winning form, thanks to his victory in the inaugural Dubai Trophy on his local debut last month when he shaped as if he would appreciate a step up in distance.

Expect a bold bid from a good draw in a race that has attracted the maximum field.

At decent odds, Prince Elzaam could reward Eachway support under Oisin Murphy.To take a betGo to www.tabonline.co.za or www.bettingworld.co.za

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