Five fancies for week four of the Dubai World Cup Carnival

The Dubai World Cup Carnival continues apace this week with an eight-race card for week four.

No performance this year has passed the achievement of Al Suhail in the Al Fahidi Fort, but the wealth of international talent in Dubai means the next big performance could be just around the corner.

I have five selections for you this week on a week when Godolphin may well dominate. The Group Three Firebreak Stakes at 4.55pm take centre stage.

This is the best bet on the card. He won this race in 2021 and 2022 and it again looks to be his for the taking. He ran very well on his return this year over an inadequate 5f, finishing second to Lazuli. The step up to his best trip of 6f is in his favour as is his high draw (14) towards the favoured stands’ side rail. He is suited to this track, as shown by his fine third to A Case of You in the Al Quoz Sprint on World Cup night last year. This race will act as a stepping stone to that contest once again.

This horse is a Grade One winner in his native Uruguay and his record on dirt stands close inspection. Of late, he has been campaigned on turf, but he is better on dirt, where a strong pace suits him. He looks to be a play here returning to his favoured surface, with this race representing a good chance for him to win again at Meydan.

If only this filly had a better draw instead of her wide berth in stall 11. With a better berth, I’d have have rated her to be as strong a selection as Man Of Promise but I still believe she will outclass her rivals in this Jumeirah Classic. Her win in the Group Two Duchess of Cambridge Stakes and third in the Group One Cheveley Park are standout efforts in this company. The trouble for her lies in fashioning a good trip from her draw. Pat Cosgrave will look to break sharply and angle across to track the leaders without being forced wide. If he can execute such tactics she will be tough to beat.

On the face of it this horse looks to be the second string from the Charlie Appleby yard. However, I believe he is better treated than Falling Shadow, who is the mount of William Buick, and he has a much better draw in stall 1 as compared to his stable companion in 13.

This ten-furlong trip suits Blue Trail. Indeed, he posted a career-best speed figure at Goodwood over this trip that makes him look well in off a mark of 98. He didn’t stay 12 furlongs when last seen at Ascot, when too keen. Back in trip with a good draw and Mikael Barzalona on board makes him a play here.

Salem Bin Ghadayer has won three of the past five renewals of this Dirt trial for the Godolphin Mile and I am taking him to do it again with Ever Given. This horse was very talented in the UK for Tom Dascombe and Hugo Palmer. He has won six of his 16 starts and if he takes to the dirt surface here at Meydan could be a very useful recruit for this team.

Admittedly, he is not bred for the surface, but he is capable of front-running and that will no doubt be the tactic employed here by Mikael Barzalona, who is a superb dirt rider.

I think the angle here is that from stall 4 he will get to the front and dominate this field. He has the pace to win at 6f yet promises to stay this mile trip. He is interesting in a race where two of his main rivals are deep closers, which is not the ideal run style for dirt.

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