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INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FEBRUARY 10, 2015 Dubai: World Cup looks ripe for plundering The result of last Thursday's Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (UAE-G2) -- in which front runner Frankyfourfingers (Sunday Break) lasted by a diminishing head from Prince Bishop (Dubawi), with reigning Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) hero African Story (Pivotal) floundering in the dirt -- will not strike fear into the hearts of any planning to invade Meydan for the $10 million prize. To be fair, French import Frankyfourfingers was improving off his comeback second in the January 8 Maktoum Challenge Round 1 (UAE-G2), where he traveled smartly before a lack of fitness told in his first start for Salem bin Ghadayer. And he did use his tactical speed to good effect from post 9, en route to a track record-setting 1:58.24 for about 1 3/16 miles on the new dirt course. And defending champion Prince Bishop ran a massive race in his dirt debut off a five-month layoff. The Saeed bin Suroor veteran, who coincidentally had captured last year's Round 2 in a track-record 1:55.67 on the old Tapeta, was already being driven along by William Buick early. But the eight-year-old found his footing down the stretch, delivered a rattling late run, and missed narrowly on the speed-friendly surface. At the same time, both would have serious questions to answer in the World Cup. Frankyfourfingers was just a useful listed-level performer in the French provinces, his pre-Dubai career highlight being a second to Baltic Baroness (Shamardal) in the Grand Prix de Compiegne. Judging by how he was shortening stride and looking for the wire here, he'd be doubtful to beat Prince Bishop going any farther. And Prince Bishop has been unplaced in his three previous World Cup attempts on Tapeta -- a surface that he relished -- making it difficult to envision him having vastly better luck in a World Cup on dirt. Frankyfourfingers could cut back in trip to a metric mile for Thursday's Firebreak S. (UAE-G3). Also possible for a quick turnaround is Surfer (Distorted Humor), who beat "Franky" in Round 1 but could manage only fourth in Round 2. I've always thought that Surfer was more effective at a mile, and hope that connections keep him in that comfort zone. The biggest storyline coming out of Round 2 was the subpar effort by African Story, whose turn of foot on synthetic deserted him on dirt, and he wound up a one-paced seventh. In the immediate aftermath, bin Suroor reportedly said that was African Story's one and only dirt experiment. Apparently there was a change of heart, or a decision by the Godolphin brain trust. According to Godolphin's website, bin Suroor will give African Story another chance in the Maktoum Challenge Round 3 (UAE-G1) on Super Saturday March 7. Prince Bishop is likewise aiming for another title defense in that course-and-distance prep for the World Cup. With the locals looking suspect, thoughts turn to the internationals to find the World Cup winner. While California Chrome's (Lucky Pulpit) forward running style is tailor made for this track, he's not the only one with logical claims. Toast of New York (Thewayyouare), who beat Chrome when second in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1); Constitution (Tapit); Tonalist (Tapit); the old warhorse Ron the Greek (Full Mandate), who is in sparkling form at present in Saudi Arabia; Japanese dirt star Hokko Tarumae (King Kamehameha); and Japan Cup (Jpn-G1) romper Epiphaneia (Symboli Kris S) are all waiting in the wings. Spring forward: I thought that Godolphin's Local Time (Invincible Spirit) looked vulnerable in the U.A.E. One Thousand Guineas after a trial score that left something to be desired, but she proved me utterly wrong. In fact, the bin Suroor filly traveled like the winner every step of the way and rolled home by 3 1/4 lengths. Her time, however, was once again slow (1:39.69 for the metric mile). And her most dangerous rival from the trial, Ad Idem (Jet Master), gave way early here. The Mike de Kock trainee was later found to have bled, and also came back lame in her right hind. A healthy Ad Idem might have given Local Time another tussle. The winner's stablemate Good Place (Street Cry), fourth in the trial after a terrible start, turned in a much improved effort to take second in the Guineas. Although she was slowly away again, at least it wasn't a debacle. She was also tightened up on the rail momentarily entering the stretch, but stayed on very well. The added ground of the February 26 U.A.E. Oaks (UAE-G3) will suit Good Place even better, and she might finally put it all together. Then again, maybe I'm being incorrigible because of her pedigree. The Guineas was just serving as a tightener for Yodelling's (Medaglia d'Oro) primary objective in the Oaks, as trainer Charlie Appleby mentioned in advance. Still, I was hoping for a bit more than a slow-starting, wide-trip fourth from the hitherto unbeaten Godolphin filly. Yodelling is bred to excel as distances increase, though, so she's another who could be a different proposition in the Oaks. Too clever: Mastermind (Var), tabbed as "one to follow" off his Dubai debut, made good next time out in the Meydan Classic Trial on turf. In a performance characterized by both speed and resolve, the de Kock pupil posted a front-running victory in a solid 1:23 2/5 for about seven furlongs. Mastermind shrugged off early pressure, and rebuffed a concerted challenge from Volatile (Strategic Prince), to whom he was conceding nine pounds. As Dubai guru Pat Cummings (@dubairacenight) has explained, it's some feat to wire a turning turf race at the Carnival, and de Kock termed the effort "most impressive." While that makes Mastermind the obvious candidate for the February 26 Meydan Classic over the same course and distance, he could possibly be seen on dirt in the future. The South African is nominated to the U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2). And since de Kock has mentioned that his leading classic hope, U.S. Triple Crown nominee Mubtaahij (Dubawi), could skip the March 7 Al Bastakiya, might Mastermind be in the mix for that? Just tossing out a thought. De Kock also sent out the eye-catching third in the Meydan Classic Trial, Toscanelli (Galileo), who was making his first start for the yard. Formerly with Aidan O'Brien, the full brother to ill-fated Mars was last seen being used as a pacemaker for Gleneagles (Galileo) in the September 14 Vincent O'Brien National S. (Ire-G1). Draw a line through it: De Kock cautioned beforehand that Forries Waltz (Greys Inn) was very much in need of the race in the Meydan Classic Trial. Neither was he helped by the fact that he ran into a traffic jam on the backstretch, and jockey Christophe Soumillon had to snatch him up. After that, "Forrie" was never involved and understandably weakened late to 11th. Unbeaten in three starts as a juvenile in his native South Africa, including a handicap win over older horses, the import is far better than this. Forrie figures to benefit from more ground as well, considering his pedigree and the fact that he has already won over a mile. Curiously, he was not listed as a U.A.E. Derby nominee. Rounding into form: Two past "draw a line through it" horses, Slumdogmillionaire (Strike Smartly) and Meandre (Slickly), took a step forward in their respective races last Thursday. Both happen to be trained by Doug Watson. Slumdogmillionaire, in the front rank throughout in a turf handicap, looked sure to be overwhelmed by a phalanx of closers. But the multiple South African Group 1 winner dug in relentlessly on the inside and somehow got back up for third. This second start back from a 22-month layoff will bring him on further, and he could be poised to strike third time out. "Slumdog" probably needs more than a metric mile these days. A step up could come quickly, for Watson has entered him at about 1 1/4 miles on the upcoming Thursday card. As hoped, Meandre did step up in trip for the about 1 3/4-mile handicap, where he ranked as the 132-pound co-highweight along with Ahzeemah (Dubawi). Unfortunately, Ahzeemah came over on the rail-hugging Meandre in the stretch, forcing jockey Pat Dobbs to steady and alter course. Despite the loss of momentum, and the weight over this trip, Meandre rallied boldly and went down by a length in third to Godolphin's Famous Kid (Street Cry). One of the 117-pound lightweights, Famous Kid nevertheless deserves credit for overcoming a wide trip from post 13. The bin Suroor pupil was stretching out to this distance for the first time, and the four-year-old has upside as a half-brother to 2009 St Leger (Eng-G1) hero Mastery. Ahzeemah was a fine second, beaten just three-quarters of a length by stablemate Famous Kid. Factor in Ahzeemah's absence since July 31, when he was a close runner-up in the Goodwood Cup (Eng-G2), and his effort in defeat here is even stronger. Ahzeemah will be tough next time, presumably in the February 28 Nad al Sheba Trophy (UAE-G3), which he won in 2013. Also worth noting is de Kock's Mickdaam (Dubawi), who stormed home from last for fourth despite leaning in to his left down the lane. A prominent sophomore of 2012 when taking the Al Bastakiya and Chester Vase (Eng-G3), Mickdaam was sidelined following a fifth to Camelot in the Derby (Eng-G1) at Epsom. He missed all of 2013, raced only twice at the 2014 Carnival, and resumed with a non-threatening ninth on dirt January 8. Mickdaam might be ready to make up for lost time. On tap: Mubtaahij takes his next step on the classic trail in Thursday's U.A.E. Two Thousand Guineas (UAE-G3), an itinerary that goes through the U.A.E. Derby and hopefully on to the Kentucky Derby (G1). Fellow U.S. Triple Crown nominee Maftool (Hard Spun), third to Mubtaahij after missing the start in the trial, seeks to turn the tables. In addition to the aforementioned Frankyfourfingers and Surfer, the Firebreak could feature Darwin (Big Brown) and current track record-holder Tamarkuz (Speightstown). This would mark Darwin's debut for de Kock, and his return to dirt for the first time since his Todd Pletcher days. He had spent the past two seasons on turf for O'Brien. Reynaldothewizard (Speightstown) is the one to beat in the Al Shindagha Sprint (UAE-G3), pending Tuesday's final declarations. And on Saturday, Ron the Greek (known as Wattani in Saudi Arabia) is expected to put his three-race winning streak on the line in the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup in Riyadh.
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