Group One Dubai Turf Guide 2023

Four-year-old colt for Yauo Tomomichi in Japan who arrives here having won on his latest outing at Hanshin over 1m 3f, beating Matenro Leo at 6/4 favourite. His last two outings prior to that victory came at ParisLongchamp, where he was 19th of 20 in the Group One Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe won by 7/2fav Alpinista.

That followed another run at the same course in a group two contest over 1m 3f, finishing fourth of seven when priced at 11/4. His record in Japan is excellent, having won three races and placing in the other two and was the best two-year-old colt in Japan in 2021, going unbeaten and trainer Tomomichi has had this race in mind, he can go well.

Four-year-old mare for Mitsu Nakauchida who has won four races in Japan and has been raced at 1m throughout her career. Arrives here for the Dubai Turf rated at 121 following victory last time out at Hanshin in November last year. Jockey Damian Lane called him a ‘Japanese superstar’ and trainer Nakauchida has high hopes for the four-year-old to fulfil his overseas ambitions.

She certainly comes here in with a chance and goes well fresh, so the 125-day break shouldn’t faze the mare.

Experienced seven-year-old for John & Thady Gosden who tasted success last time out at Lingfield in the Group Three Winter Derby Stakes, beating Tyrrhenian Sea by three lengths at 8/11fav. He is a top horse who has won this race on the last two occasions and must be respected off the back of that.

Numerous group one winner who should be in the mix to go for the hat trick off 118.

Returns after a 118-day break following the colt’s fifth-place finish at Tokyo last time out over 1m 4f. He won on debut at the same course over 1m 1f in February last year before recording finishes of fourth (twice) and third before that fifth at Tokyo and Noriyuki Hori sends him here for the Dubai Turf.

He is currently priced at around 10/1 for this contest and anyone could win this open contest, but this would be harder than what he has faced so far in his career over in Japan.

Four-year-old for the duo of Charlie Appleby and William Buick who won on his last outing at this course, winning the Group Three Dubai Millennium Stakes over 1m 2f by a length to Zagrey. Has also won a class one listed contest at Newmarket as well as successes at Chelmsford City, Lingfield and here once more in 2021/22.

Top trainer Appleby must be respected in this contest having sent a couple of runners to this contest and Nations Pride has a similar chance to his other runner Master Of The Seas off a mark of 118.

Charlie Appleby sends two for the Dubai Turf in the form of Nations Pride and five-year-old gelding Master Of The Seas. He has won five races in his flat racing career, including one here as well as winning at Newmarket on numerous occasions. He is a winner in grouped company, most notably group two and three at Newmarket and here at Meydan, winning the Zabeel Mile in January earlier this year.

Was third at 5/4 favourite last time out here in the Group One Jebel Hatta and could go close again here as he arrives in good form.

Real World comes here as the highest rated runner in the field off 123, having finished second to the machine Baaeed in June 2022 before tenth of 14 in a group one here earlier this month. He has won six races on the flat in his career at the likes of Royal Ascot, York, Newbury and here at Meydan.

Boasts group success here in the past over 1m and has generally run well at this track and the six-year-old, despite not being at his best in recent times, should not be discounted for the four-time British Champion Trainer.

Experienced six-year-old for Musabbeh Al Mheiri who has won here at Meydan three times, over 1m 1f and 1m in his career. Is a winner of two group one’s here, winning the Jebel Hatta two years in a row when priced at 20/1 and 16/1.

He has performed well in grouped company here and there’s no reason for him not to go well again for Al Mheiri with Irishman Dane O’Neill on board.

Junko arrives here in top form for French trainer Andre Fabre, having finished in the top three on all seven occasions in the four-year-old’s career so far. Three wins have come at Chantilly as well as one at ParisLongchamp, most recently beating Monty by a length and a half in the 1m 1f Darshaan Stakes at Chantilly earlier this month.

Boasts group three success in France and can continue good form for Fabre in the Dubai Turf. Junko could be the each-way bet of the race with his ability to finish in the places often.

Experienced runner for Aidan O’Brien who has won races at the likes of Curragh and Dundalk with group two victory at Curragh in July last year over 7f. Has since been disappointing after a good run last year, where that victory followed a third-place finish in a group one behind Real World and Baaeed at Royal Ascot.

This is another tough test back at group one level after his 11th of 12 in the Hong Kong Cup Stakes at Sha Tin back in December and may struggle with the step up in class and trip.

Five-year-old for Roger Varian who was second here to Alfareeq in the Group One Jebel Hatta earlier this month after finishing fifth in the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot in October. May struggle in this field having only won twice at Chester in May 2021 in a class one listed contest and at Doncaster but that was back in 2020.

Needs to find much more if competing in this year’s Dubai Turf.

Seven-year-old runner for Hideaki Fujiwara who arrives here having finished third of 14 in this race last year. Has only run twice since, finishing 15th of 18 at Tokyo and 11th of 13 at Riyadh in the Saudi Cup last month.

May struggle here on the back of those two runs despite doing well in this contest in 2022 and second in this race two years ago.

Decent horse for Roger Attfield who boasts five career wins in the US at Woodbine, Tampa Bay Downs and Keeneland over 1m and 7f. Recently ninth of 16 in February Stakes at Tokyo 34 days ago and last win was nearly a year ago.

This company could prove too much for the six-year-old and doesn’t offer too much encouragement from last few runs.

This eight-year-old trained by Pierre Ng finished fourth of seven 27 days ago in the Hong Kong Gold Cup at Sha Tin and last win was in 2021 at the same course. At a bigger price in the market, it may be hard to see him winning in such good company here.

He is inexperienced at this level and also this course, having not run here before and would need some of these to flop to put him in with a chance of winning, you would think.

Smart seven-year-old for William Knight who has been heavily raced on the flat since his debut in 2018. His last win was impressive, beating Dubai Honour to the Group Two Sky Bet York Stakes at York last July.

Ninth of ten in the Group Three Neom Turf Cup 28 days ago, where Mostahdaf triumphed and looks set for another struggle here despite third to Mishriff and Baaeed in a group one at York in August providing promise.

Heavily raced seven-year-old for David O’Meara who finished seventh of 14 here in the Jebel Hatta last time out after fourth in a group two over 1m 1f, also here last month. Last win came at Ascot in October, landing a handicap when priced at a massive 80/1.

Harder to make a case for here on the back of some indifferent form and he’s up against some very good runners from around the world in this contest.