-©cedriclane(2).jpg)
By Sam Turner -
A truly international field assemble for the G1 Al Quoz Sprint, with seven nationalities represented in an enthralling renewal of the 1200m turf feature. There is little doubt which of the dozen runners is the quickest, that tag is sported by Ponntos who became the first Czech Republic winner at the Dubai Carnival when successful at the expense of Bilhayl over 1000m on Festive Friday in the Ertijaal Dubai Dash. A confirmed trailblazer from the gates, the sixyear- old son of Power is sure to lead this field a merry dance, but the petrol gauge will be flashing red late on and the final 200m may seem more like 2000m for rider Antonio Fresu. Ponntos has run honourably on all four Dubai starts, winning the Dash as well as finding Star Of Mystery and Frost At Dawn too strong in the G2 Blue Point Sprint and G3 Nad Al Sheba Sprint respectively. The prospect of seeing Star Of Mystery paired with one Lanfranco Dettori is an intriguing one, especially with the filly set to carry just 53kgs. The Charlie Appleby trainee has looked a class act on occasions this winter, not least when lifting the Blue Point. She ought to be another that appears on the scene late, especially with the mercurial Dettori aboard; albeit her handler felt that Meydan’s 1000m was her optimum trip. The industrious Frost At Dawn has caught many a photographer’s attention in the mornings here at Meydan with her trait of doing handstands on her front legs a dramatic regular sight. William Knight’s filly shattered the 1000m track record previously held by Ertijaal under Mickael Barzalona on her fifth star at the Carnival and clearly remains in fantastic fettle. Two starts over 1400m should have last year’s champion, Danyah, primed and ready to rock.
The seven-year-old surprised many, not least race caller Larry Colmus, with his unexpected success in the sprinting feature 12 months ago; Sight Success fourth but seemingly not in the same form now. Trainer Musabbeh Al Mheiri is delighted with Danyah’s preparation, reporting: “We took him to the smaller training track on Monday to keep him under wraps. I have been pleased with his runs this season and we have him in great form.” Brenton Avdulla, regular pilot of Sight Success, prefers the chances of California Spangle (pictured) who drops back to 1200m for the first time in more than two years. Tony Cruz’s speedster boasts marquee defeats over Golden Sixty in the G1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) and Romantic Warrior in the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) and regained his mojo with Avdulla aboard when winning the G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m). That form that has already been boosted, and he looks to have major claims if he can keep tabs on a frenetic early pace. Casa Creed has clocked up more Air Miles than an Emirates pilot in recent times and looks to have outside claims of improving on his fifth-place finish in 2022, while the admirable Qatari winner Emaraaty Ana could easily make the podium under history-maker Saffie Osborne with a pace set up likely to suit.
