Pedigree Query

This Saturday at Meydan (Dubai) Keen Ice will get his prep for the Dubai World Cup after a poor performance last time out at GP, Romans said he was running against a speed biased track? Kiaran McLaughlin runs back Watershed after a decent fast closing prep last time out against Confrontation. Mubtaahij never fired after thoroughly beaten last time out against Confrontation...de Cock says the distance was not to his liking and expect a much improved try? TJ

Al Maktoum Challenge R3 Sponsored By Emirates
18:55 TB - Group I 2000M (a10F) - Dirt USD 400,000
Rail Position:TrueSafety Limit:16

1(1) GUN PIT (AUS) 5 yrs. Bay G 20 (8-2-1)
Owner:Cheng Chung Wah
Trainer:C Fownes Jockey:Joao Moreira
Weight 57.0 Kgs Official Rating 115
2(2) MUNAASER (GB) 5 yrs. Bay G 16 (3-2-2)
Owner:Sh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Trainer:A Al Raihe Jockey:Paul Hanagan
Weight 57.0 Kgs Official Rating 105
3(3) WATERSHED (USA) 4 yrs. Bay C 5 (2-0-1)
Owner:Godolphin
Trainer:K McLaughlin Jockey:James Doyle
Weight 57.0 Kgs Official Rating 109
4(4) MUBTAAHIJ (IRE) 4 yrs. Bay C 10 (4-1-0)
Owner:Sh Mohd bin Khalifa Al Maktoum
Trainer:M de Kock Jockey:Christophe Soumillon
Weight 57.0 Kgs Official Rating 119
5(5) HAATHEQ (USA) 9 yrs. Bay H 52 (11-14-6)
Owner:Sh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Trainer:A Al Raihe Jockey:Dane O'Neill
Weight 57.0 Kgs Official Rating 106
6(6) SPECIAL FIGHTER (IRE) 5 yrs. Ch H 17 (5-2-0)
Owner:Sh Mansoor bin Mohd Al Maktoum
Trainer:M Al Muhairi Jockey:Fernando Jara
Weight 57.0 Kgs Official Rating 110
7(7) GOLD CITY (IRE) 7 yrs. Bay G 25 (3-7-1)
Owner:Sh Mansoor bin Mohd Al Maktoum
Trainer:S Seemar Jockey:Richard Mullen
Weight 57.0 Kgs Official Rating 109
8(8) FAULKNER (GB) 6 yrs. Ch H 7 (4-0-1)
Owner:Sh Ahmed bin Mohd Al Maktoum
Trainer:D Watson Jockey:Patrick Dobbs
Weight 57.0 Kgs Official Rating 110
9(9) GOLDEN SOUL (USA) 6 yrs. Ch H 26 (3-3-3)
Owner:Charles E Fipke
Trainer:M de Kock Jockey:Wayne Smith
Weight 57.0 Kgs Official Rating 102
10(10) STORM BELT (USA) 7 yrs. DkB H 27 (4-6-0)
Owner:Sh Hamdan bin Mohd Al Maktoum
Trainer:D Watson Jockey:Sam Hitchcott
Weight 57.0 Kgs Official Rating 104
11(11) KEEN ICE (USA) 4 yrs. Bay C 14 (2-1-3)
Owner:Donegal Racing
Trainer:D Romans Jockey:Ryan Moore
Weight 57.0 Kgs Official Rating 122
12(12) PYLON (SAF) 7 yrs. Bay G 28 (9-7-0)
Owner:Mr A & Mrs F J Van Vuuren
Trainer:M de Kock Jockey:Royston Ffrench
Weight 57.0 Kgs Official Rating 102

Watershed
Mubtaahij
Keen Ice
Storm Belt

Keen Ice
Watershed
Mubtahij

Interesting that Golden Soul is there now - I don't really follow him.

I really think Watershed is on the improve, so he is my pick here.

Looks like a wasted trip for Keen Ice...I still can't understand how he ever beat AP. Here's the finish. TJ
Special Fighter....wire to wire, won very easily paying $68.
Gun Pit...a clear 2nd
Faulkner...3rd by a head
Mubtaahij...4th by 1/2
Munaaser...5th by about 4, then the American contingent finally show themselves.
Watershed...6th by one, who used to have speed in America, was a well held last throughout...looked like he wasn't happy about it?
Keen Ice...looked to be a tiring 7th...not very impressive after staying nearer the pace than usual?
Golden Soul...finished last:>(
Here's the replay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNavHuRpnZo

Well, I don't think Keen Ice really enjoyed being pushed along so soon, but it does appear that he's not quite ready for the World Cup. I question that decision but maybe they know more than us!

Cree wrote:Well, I don't think Keen Ice really enjoyed being pushed along so soon, but it does appear that he's not quite ready for the World Cup. I question that decision but maybe they know more than us!

Hi Cree,
Yes I could see he may not have liked being where he was early, but I personally think he's just not much horse (2 lifetime wins in 15 starts). He hasn't done a thing since last August when he beat AP and he's been unplaced in his only two starts in 2016.
The upset winner set a track record in winning this race, but he was well beaten by Frosted in his previous start, when Frosted also broke a track record at a slightly shorter distance. Though in Special Fighter's defense, he did lose a couple shoes during the running of that one? California Chrome and Frosted have had success winning in Dubai and America running without lasix. Keen Ice never ran without lasix in his entire career, until this race in Dubai. Taking that important factor into consideration, his chances of turning this poor performance around in the World Cup seems unlikely. TJ

I agree, he isn't much horse. The owner and trainer did a pretty grand job of hyping him up, but so far he hasn't come through for them - other than the Travers, which I consider just one of those races. He won't repeat something like that.

I really like Chrome and Frosted's chances in the World Cup.