Divine Image looks the part

Silva, trained by Pia Brandt, caused a massive shock when winning last month’s UAE 1000 Guineas, posting a smart performance when slamming her 14 rivals in the hands of Oisin Murphy.

The Irish jockey maintains the partnership in the UAE Oaks (Listed), one of the highlights of an attractive card at Meydan today.

Having her first start on dirt, Silva took advantage of a low draw and escaped much of the kickback when settled on the rails, just behind the leaders.

Always going well, she kicked clear off the home turn to win with plenty in hand.If she can handle the step up in trip, she could become the eighth filly to complete the 1000 Guineas/Oaks double.

However, Godolphin’s Divine Image, trained by in-form Charlie Appleby, caught the eye behind Silva on her Meydan debut.

She completely blew the start, costing her plenty of ground and leaving her with a massive task from the tail of the field.

She ran on strongly in the closing stages, so the stiff er stamina test will play to her strengths.She is fancied to turn the tables on the French filly and can give Appleby another major prize at Meydan.

Ismail Mohammed’s Al Hayvette, twice a winner at Meydan already this season, is well worth considering at decent odds.She struggled in the UAE 1000 Guineas, when undone by a very wide draw, and predictably failed to land a telling blow.

She can easily bounce back as she is open to plenty of improvement stepping up markedly in distance, being by Belmont Stakes winner Union Rags.Mike de Kock’s Janoobi, winner of the 2018 Zabeel Mile (Group Two), faces a strong field in this year’s renewal, Race 5 on the card.

But Janoobi has offered little in three appearances this year, both on turf and dirt, and is hard to fancy.

Marinaresco, winner of the 2017 Durban July, has stronger claims of giving De Kock his fifth Zabeel Mile.

He was entitled to need his comeback run in the Al Fahidi Fort following a 12-month break from racing and should strip much fitter.

Mythical Magic, one of four Godolphin runners in the Zabeel Mile line-up, fared best of those horses that contested last month’s Al Fahidi Fort when only finding D’Bai too good.

A lightly raced sort, he looks primed for a big run and has the assistance of the red-hot William Buick.

Century Dream, representing Simon Crisford, went from strength to strength last year and arrives in the UAE as the highest rated horse in the line-up.

He produced a personal-best in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, going down narrowly to Roaring Lion and I Can Fly on his final appearance of the season.Century Dream, to be ridden by Murphy, also demonstrated he can perform on the international stage, finishing a creditable fourth in the Arlington Million in Chicago.

He commands respect as he looks to punch his ticket to the $6-million Dubai Turf next month.Earlier on the card, Godolphin dominates the Dubai Millennium Stakes (Group 3), Race 3 on the programme – with the Dubai powerhouse providing six of the eight runners.

Of the sextet, preference is for First Nation, the choice of Buick of Appleby’s four runners.

He shrugged off a 117-day absence when scoring over the course and distance last month, sprinting clear of his rivals in the closing stages to record a comfort-able success on his Meydan debut.

He can follow up and advertise his claims for a crack at the Dubai Turf.The rest of the card, featur-ing three competitive handicaps, looks tough and finding winners won’t be easy.

Last year’s UAE 2000 Guineas winner Gold Town brings a touch of class to the opening handicap, run over 1600m on dirt.

He has not reached those dizzy heights this season and makes little appeal under top weight, despite a declining mark.

Thegreatcollection, runner-up on his last two trips to Meydan, gets the vote for champion trainer Doug Watson.

He has been no match for the progressive Capez-zano recently – the Sandeep Jadhav-trained has blossomed this winter and looks a leading hope for the Godolphin Mile (Group 2) on World Cup night – and the selection will find today’s test an easier task, especially stepping back in distance.

Watson can complete a quick double with Ekhtiyaar in the 1200m handicap on turf, 35 minutes later.

A progressive sprint handicapper at three for Roger Varian in the UK, he made a pleasing start to his UAE career last month and can build on that promise.

The finale, a 1600m handicap on turf, has attracted a maximum field of 16 with Godolphin’s unexposed Symbolization heading the weights.

Trained by Appleby, he made an encouraging comeback behind Nordic Lights and rates the one to beat if taking a step forward. He is ideally berthed in stall three.

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