The Dubai World Cup Carnival: Angus McNae's top tips for Week Five

I am delighted to say that James Willoughby will join me on Racing TV on Thursday covering every Dubai World Cup Carnival race in detail.

It will be great to have him back and garner his unique insight concerning a Carnival that he has a great affinity with. Remember, you can watch dedicated coverage on Racing TV Extra.

Two winners in this column last week for Meydan and I am hopeful of more this week.

An excellent card features the UAE Oaks, the Balanchine and the Al Shindagha Sprint.

In breaking the seven-furlong track record here last time out this horse threw down a marker in terms of a potential challenge for the Godolphin Mile on World Cup night.

He is a strong traveller who cruised through that handicap last time out and although he has been raised 8lb I think he is still fairly treated off a mark of 100.

Indeed, if he has pretentious to be a Godolphin Mile contender then he has to win this.

The worry is the relatively quick turnaround, which could see him recoil from that effort last time. However, he won with a bit in hand and this race is no stronger than the one he won last time out. He is highly thought of and can win again.

Waady won this race last year, when beating Equilateral, and its distinctly possible that we will witness a repeat.

Waady comes here on the back of an excellent run on dirt, where he finished second to Switzerland in the Dubawi Stakes. Moving from dirt to turf is an excellent angle, with a dirt experience often serving to sharpen a horse up. That is aligned with a drop in trip, which is sure to suit.

Equilateral is best when fresh and he duly obliged first time up off a lay-off last time here. He is far from certain to replicate that effort. After all he failed when given the task of backing up in this race last year.

Lazuli was a shade disappointing behind Equilateral last time but rates as a danger if improving for the run.

This Zabeel mile looks tailor made for D’Bai. I thought he shaped very well last time when finishing second in the Al Fahidi Fort behind Land Of Legends.

The race was run at a moderate gallop and he was poorly positioned in being held up. By contrast, the winner was always well placed close to the pace. D’Bai finished off strongly towards the inside rail, shaping remarkably well in the circumstances and there is little doubt in my mind that he was unable to show his true colours.

He won the Al Fahidi Fort here last year in impressive fashion, where he attacked down the middle of the track off a strong gallop. I would expect a similar performance and success on Thursday.

The step up to a mile is a small concern, but he has rarely raced at the trip and can boast a Class 2 Handicap win at Ascot over a mile way back in 2017.

The past two winners of the Balanchine have been Magic Lily and Poetic Charm. Both were trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by William Buick, having won the Cape Verdi beforehand.

More of the same awaits this year with Althiqa, who won the Cape Verdi last time out for Appleby and Buick looks the one to beat.

She carries 3lb penalty for that Cape Verdi win, yet she should be capable of confirming the form with those that renew rivalry.

She is a very straightforward, consistent filly and showed a tremendous attitude when winning last time.

She did edge a bit to her left under pressure, causing minor interference, but that should not be held against her given her tremendous overall record. Many of her rivals arrive with questions to answer.

Satish Seemar’s runner won this last year and will be much sharper for his comeback run when third to Switzerland in the Dubawi Stakes. He showed plenty of pace there before weakening late on.

He is favoured by the conditions of this race and should get a good set up here, given that Important Mission and Bochart look likely to set a strong pace and Gladiator King should get a decent stalking trip.

Important Mission is a big danger given the strong fractions he set last time out, when second to the useful Canvassed. He will be the one to catch from stall 1, but I am hopeful that Gladiator King will run him down late on.