Keen Ice, the only horse to have beaten American Pharoah last season, is set to be the star turn on a glittering Super Saturday card at Meydan Racecourse this weekend.
Keen Ice was entered alongside fellow World Cup aspirant Mubtaahij in the third round of the Al Maktoum Challenge, while Hong Kong’s Gun Pit, Doug Watson’s Faulkner and Kiaran McLaughlin’s Watershed could also run in the Group 1 contest.
With jockey Ryan Moore penciled in to be aboard British raider Euro Charline in Thursday's Group 2 Balanchine, The National understands the British rider will get the leg-up on Keen Ice.
Keen Ice took advantage of Frosted’s early speed duel with American Pharoah in the Group 1 Travers Stakes to skip up the inside at Saratoga in August under Javier Castellano.
Since that cherished victory, Dale Romans’s son of 2008 Dubai World Cup winner Curlin has finished fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and filled the same position in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap in November,
The four year old was then a lacklustre sixth behind fellow World Cup hopeful Mshawish in the Donn Handicap last month.
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The Group 1 Jebel Hatta has also attracted a strong entry with Charlie Appleby’s Tryster out to secure his place on World Cup night against South African duo of Harry’s Son and Ertijaal, who reverts to turf after a disastrous attempt on dirt a fortnight ago.
Elsehwere on the seven-race card, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Postponed has been entered in the Group 2 Dubai City of Gold with Al Asayl’s Balios in opposition.
Headlining the sprints are Rich Tapestry, last month’s impressive Al Shindagha Sprint winner, in the Mahab Al Shimaal and Sole Power, the Al Quoz Sprint winner who clashes with King Stand Stakes victor Goldream in the Meydan Sprint.
Polar River, the unbeaten UAE 1,000 Guineas winner, has scared off almost all of the opposition in the UAE Oaks on Thursday.
Doug Watson’s filly was entered alongside Mike de Kock’s exciting Argentinean import Vale Dori, who is double entered in the Balanchine.
Dolly Dagger and Pure Diamond, the only other entries, also hold other engagements.
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