Meydan Overview & Free Picks - Week 5:

Last week two horses threw their hat into the ring for the Al Quoz sprint. Equilateral put up one of the best performances of the Dubai World Cup Carnival in winning on the turf over five furlongs and Glorious Journey travelled strongly before winning the Al Fahidi Fort over 7 Furlongs.

Both have a chance of being competitive on Dubai World Cup night although Equilteral may always be best at 5 furlongs. Glorious Journey reminds me of Jungle Cat who also won the Al Fahidi Fort before tasting Al Quoz glory. He could be a live outsider on the night.

Race 2 - Barney Roy

10:05am ET Meydan Racecourse - This formerly classy three year old makes his debut in a weak looking Al Rashidiya and if ready to fire, he will take a fair bit of beating. As a three year old he finished second in the 2000 Guineas to Churchill and then won the St James's Palace Stakes.

After missing 2018 he won a Listed race at Longchamp before going off favourite for the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot where he ran poorly. He has not been seen since but this could just be the environment that will allow him to thrive.

Race 3 - Universal Order

10:40am ET Meydan Racecourse - I was really impressed with this horse when he won here at the beginning of the year and he can go in again here. He showed a sharp turn of foot to win that day having been held up off the pace in a slowly run race and a 5lb rise in the handicap underestimates his superiority that day.

This step up in trip will be no problem and his hold up style and change of gear is perfect for this turf track. He has had 28 days to get over his exertions and thus should avoid the dreaded bounce. He looks certain to go well here.

Race 6 - Drafted

12:25pm ET Meydan Racecourse - This grand dirt sprinter can win the Al Shindagha sprint and in so doing reverse recent form with Gladiator King. Drafted looked a little rusty on his comeback , getting a bit further behind than usual before making an effort in the straight before flattening out late on.

He will be much sharper for the run and will have to be to beat the progressive looking Gladiator King who looked to be an awkward type when winning last time (refused to change his legs in the straight). In stall 5 Drafted can get an out of the kickback ride that he craves and I'm hoping he will surge late to success here.

Race 7 - First Nation

1:00pm ET Meydan Racecourse - I think this horse might well have won last time out with a clear run. He was typically slowly away before making a move in the home straight where he was hampered and had to wait for a run. Once in the clear he stayed on strongly and can be rated as the narrow winner of the race. He was beaten by Certain Lad and Simsir who re-oppose here.

Certain Lad is a bounce candidate in my opinion and Simsir, though eye catching, surely wants further. First Nation does have a poor draw in 16 - that said he is a hold up horse anyway and William Buick will be able to drop him in and ride him to finish off his race strongly. He has a previous win here and can add to that here.

The Dubai World Cup Carnival, worth US$12.74 m in prize money across 10 race meetings, runs from January to March every year and is a season of high-class international race days contested by the most high-profile owners, trainers, horses and jockeys in the world. It runs alongside the domestic Racing at Meydan season.

The Dubai World Cup Carnival leads to the Dubai World Cup day, the richest day of racing in the world.

The major prep for Dubai World Cup day is the Super Saturday meeting, to be held on Saturday March 07, 2020. Super Saturday allows trainers to put the finishing touches to their equine stars before appearing on racing's biggest stage - Dubai World Cup day. As the official dress rehearsal for the Dubai World Cup it is a major social occasion.