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NAP - Zarak in the Dubai Turf (15:30 Meydan)
Zarak was regularly in the shadow of Almanzor last year, though looked an improved model when a most impressive winner of the Dubai Millenium Stakes here last month. He strikes as the type who will flourish as a 4-y-o and his connections have a superb record at Meydan, which he's taken to enhance. Ribchester showed some high-class form last year in Britain and is a big threat if ready to roll after a lay-off, but he also has an extra furlong to contend with too. Another UK-based runner Decorated Knight won the Jebel Hatta with a good turn of foot last time, and though this requires more, he has potential after just 12 career starts.
NB - Highland Reel in the Dubai Sheema Classic (16:05 Meydan)
Postponed was a very good winner of this 12 months ago, though got very worked up before his prep run when second in the Dubai City Of Gold earlier this month, a race he also took in the year before. He was probably unlucky not to prevail that day, but it leaves him with a little bit to prove still and Highland Reel could take plenty of beating. He wasn't at his best when fourth in this 12 months ago, but had another remarkable globetrotting campaign thereafter and there's the strong likelihood of him getting an easy lead here.
Longshot - Qatar Man in the UAE Derby (13:25 Meydan)
Thunder Snow is a Group 1-winning juvenile and landed the UAE 2000 Guineas readily last time, but he's drawn wide here up in trip and looks worth taking on at short prices. Epicharis and Master Plan are interesting for Japan and US respectively, but Marco Botti's runner Qatar Man was much improved when finishing second to Cosmo Charlie in the Al Bastakiya last time, appreciating the step up in trip that day and it was an effort backed up by the clock. He's perfectly drawn in stall 1 and is likely to outrun his huge odds at the very least.
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