Overflow field entered for Al Shindagha Sprint

The Al Shindagha Sprint (UAE-G3) highlights Thursday's fourth meeting of the

2010 Dubai International Racing Carnival. The about six-furlong event will be

run on the Tapeta for the first time and the overflow field of 16, with a 14

runner maximum, appears one of the best assembled for the dash.

South African trainer Mike de Kock won this is in 2008 with Asiatic Boy (Arg)

(Not for Sale) and OUR GIANT (Giant's Causeway) will carry the same colors of

Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum in his debut for the yard. A multiple

Group 1 winner in South Africa, over this trip and farther, Our Giant's new

trainer clearly is looking forward to running him.

"He is a nice horse and very versatile," de Kock said. "He has natural speed

but also plenty of stamina and is a nice horse to have in the yard. We will find

out more with the race but he is one we are really looking forward to competing

with."

Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor also saddles a Group 1 winner in the shape

of GAYEGO (Gilded Time), who won the Mahab Al Shimaal (UAE-G3) at Nad Al Sheba

going the distance on Super Thursday last year. The dark bay returned to the

United States to add the Ancient Title S. (G1) during the fall, and was just a

neck back of the winner when fourth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) to close

out his five-year-old campaign.

"I have always really liked this horse and he ran some great races last

year," bin Suroor explained. "His Breeders' Cup effort was a big run and we hope

he can run well here but he will improve for the outing."

A strong United Kingdom challenge includes the Jeremy Noseda-trained STRIKE

THE DEAL (Van Nistelrooy), a Group 2 winner who emerged from the doldrums at the

end of the European season with a neck score in the World Trophy S. (Eng-G3), as

well as Group 2 victor SIR GERRY (Carson City), already a course and distance

winner for trainer John Best. With WAR ARTIST (Orpen) a fine third in the Prix

de l'Abbaye de Longchamp (Fr-G1) on Arc Day in France also declared, the United

Kingdom appears to be well represented.

Of those trained locally, Rashed Bouresly's STAR CROWNED (Kingmambo),

runner-up in this event last season, and the Doug Watson-trained MUSAALEM

(Aljabr) make the most appeal.

The undercard features some nice events as well. The UAE One Thousand

Guineas, the first classic of the UAE season, is one race prior to the Al

Shindagha Sprint, and de Kock's RAIHANA (Elusive Quality) is sure to be a

popular selection after her impressive win in a trial race on the first night of

the Carnival. The opposition in the about one-mile test is headed by the

Godolphin team with Frankie Dettori riding multiple Group 1 winner ISHITAKI (Interprete)

in her local debut.

It looks a good renewal of the race with last year's winning trainer, Jerry

Barton, saddling MENSAJERA DE LA LUZ (Election Day), a Group 1 winner in Chile.

She has to be respected, as does Pascal Bary's OPERA COMICA (Giant Gentleman),

TALENTA (Wild Event) from Brazil and SILVER GREY (Chineur) from the United

Kingdom. The latter pair both ran well behind Raihana in the trial, as did Saudi

Arabia's WAASEMAH (Dynever).

Thursday's two turf races are intriguing handicaps with Carnival regulars

QUIJANO (Ger) (Acatenango) and MOURILYAN (Ire) (Desert Prince [Ire]) clashing in

the first going about 1 1/2 miles on what appears the best night thus far of the

2010 DIRC.