Marinaresco carries De Kock’s hopes tonight

Marinaresco, South Africa’s star 2017 Vodacom Durban July winner, will be hoping to give trainer Mike de Kock a seventh victory in the Al Fahidi Fort at Meydan tonight.South Africa has an excellent record in the Al Fahidi Fort, one of two Group 2 features on the fourth night of the Dubai World Cup Carnival, winning the prize on no less than nine occasions.

De Kock will be introducing the exciting South African import Marinaresco, the highest ranked runner in the field.

Not seen finishing a close-up third in the 2018 Sun Met when under the care of Candice Bass-Robinson, he’s vulnerable returning after a 12-month break over a trip short of his best.

Another De Kock-trained runner, last season’s Zabeel Mile winner Janoobi, ran second 12 months ago.

However he makes little appeal on the back of a dull come-back and will need to take a big step forward to make an impact. But the De Kock duo – Marinaresco 8-1 and Janoobi 10-1 – will have to face a strong challenge from Charlie Appleby’s team.

Appleby, fresh from winning Thursday’s feature, the Group 2 Cape Verdi, with Poetic Charm returns to Dubai’s flagship track chasing his fourth victory in the past five years in the Al Fahidi Fort, Race 5 on the six-race card.

His team is headed by Bravo Zolo, a previous winner at Meydan, the unexposed Mythical Magic and D’bai, a winner on his Meydan debut before finishing a creditable fourth in last year’s renewal three weeks later.

Riding arrangements suggest D’bai is Appleby’s major hope, with James Doyle booked to ride the five-year-old, one of four runners sporting the Godolphin silks.

D’bai enjoyed a fine campaign back in the UK following his winter stint in the Middle East, winning the John of Gaunt Stakes and hitting the frame twice in Group 2 company at Doncaster and New-market.

From a yard flying on all cylinders, he has strong claims of giving Doyle back-to-back wins after Jungle Cat caused a minor surprise 12 months ago.

Chris Waller, best known for his association with the Australian super racemare Winx, saddles his first runner in Dubai when Comin’ Through makes his Meydan debut in the hands of Pat Cosgrave.

He earned Group 1 honours in Doomben Cup in May last year, a breakthrough success at the highest level.

He hasn’t been in the same form since and never fired in the Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin last month, eventually trailing home a poor 12th behind Beauty Generation.

Saeed bin Suroor is enjoying a bright start to the year and he has booked French champion Christophe Soumillon to ride Top Score, a three-time course and distance winner.

He made an encouraging comeback, just failing to hold off Another Batt in handicap company at the beginning of the month.

He’s weighted to get his revenge with the winner and is one to consider, as he bids to give Suroor a welcome victory since Grazale-ma took the inaugural running in 2000. Earlier on the card Godolphin are mob-handed in the Al Rashidiya, accounting for six of the nine runners.

Saeed bin Suroor, responsible for three of Godolphin’s powerful challenge, is looking for his third successive victory in the event and preference is for Dream Castle, recent winner of the Group 3 Sing-spiel Stakes.

He landed a muddling event in eye-catching style, quickening nicely under Christophe Soumillon to readily draw clear of his 15 rivals on his first appearance since being gelded. He looks an improved performer and this son of Frankel can confirm the form with Arod, Bay Of Poets, Deauville and Racing History, who all renew rivalry.

The classy Blair House, also trained by Charlie Appleby, is the biggest danger.

He enjoyed his biggest success over today’s course and distance, winning the Group 1 Jebel Ha a in March last year.

Rested for an Australian cam-paign later in the year a er disap-pointing in the Dubai Turf, he was excellent second in the Group 1 Ladbrokes Stakes in Caulfield.

Back at his favourite venue, he ought to put up a bold show, while I don’t fear fitness will be a concern returning from a 75-day break.

The action gets underway with a decent sprint turf handicap, run over the minimum trip.

Australian sprinter Faatinah and Hit The Bid will be popular with punters having dominated a similar event three weeks ago

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