Jim Crowley Meydan Blog | Dubai World Cup

30 Mar 2024
Coral Racing Ambassador, Jim Crowley, provides an exclusive preview of his three rides on Dubai World Cup Day at Meydan, including Sea Stone in the Dubai Gold Cup.

11:30 Meydan (Dubai Kahayla Classic) – Suny Du Loup

It’s a very good spare ride to pick up this in the Arabian race. This horse won at Meydan last time out and course form is very important. The dirt here is unique so if a horse has won on this surface, it’s a huge positive.

He has been given an excellent draw in stall one. The two Saudi Arabian horses (Asfan Al Khalediah and Tilal Al Khalediah) are very good and could be hard to beat. But I think my horse is going to run well and it is a great race to be involved in. 

12:40 Meydan (Dubai Gold Cup) – Sea Stone

He ran a brilliant race last time out in the Nad Al Sheba Trophy, finishing second to Siskany. Nothing went right in that contest for us, but he was able to run on for the runner-up spot. I think he is a huge price here in the betting. I am not saying he is going to go win, but he can certainly outrun his odds.

I rode Tower Of London in the St Leger last year and he is getting weight from his elders. Trawlerman is a good horse. Eldar Eldarov is a St Leger and Irish St Leger winner who I think you really must respect. It is a race that has a lot of depth to it.

13:15 Meydan (Al Quoz Sprint) – Danyah

He won this race 12 months ago and he has had the same programme as he did last year. This is probably a better race than the one he won, so it will be tougher to defend his crown. He has been running with a Group One penalty on his back this season and he has done little wrong. He is now back off level weights and that will help.

I rode Frost At Dawn over 1m earlier this year and I suggested to William Knight that she should drop down in trip. She has been a revelation since then, and I think she will run well here. California Spangle and Casa Creed are both good horses. I think the latter is more of a miler.

My horse should be thereabouts again and of the others, I think Frost At Dawn has an excellent chance.

Dubai World Cup Thoughts

I think it’s going to be a great evening for Japan. Their horses are on another level to ours at the moment. They love the dirt at Meydan. I’d love to see Kabirkhan run a big race for Doug Watson in the Dubai World Cup, but I do think last year’s winner Ushba Tesoro will be hard to beat.

Lord North is bidding for a fourth success, and it would be great if he could prevail with Frankie on board. But I predict the Japanese horses will dominate the card.

Jim Crowley, Coral Racing Ambassador
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