Super Saturday at Meydan Previews Dubai World Cup

Super Saturday at Meydan Racecourse March 5 features previews of the Emirates Dubai World Cup (G1) and its rich undercard three weeks later, when many of the world's best will arrive late on the scene to tackle locally based horses.

Among the runners are a Breeders' Cup contender from Del Mar, a defending race winner, and a few live ones from the string brought to Dubai early by trainer Doug O'Neill—a move that has met with significant success.

One who will not be in action on Super Saturday, though, is O'Neill's main hope for the World Cup itself, Hot Rod Charlie . An impressive winner in his first Dubai start, "Charlie" awaits the big race.

"They're all doing really well," assistant Leandro Mora said of the O'Neill visitors during early morning training three days out from Super Saturday.

"We brought them here so they could get settled, get over the travel, and get used to their surroundings. It's worked."

While Hot Rod Charlie rests in his stall, O'Neill will be back in town to saddle Appreciated  in the final local prep for the World Cup, the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) over 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles), the World Cup distance.

Appreciated won the Curlin Stakes Presented by Race of Ambition over the course and distance last time out Feb. 11, defeating several others in this Saturday's big field. Among them, Sanad Libya  was just a neck back in second in the Curlin. Hypothetical , Salute The Soldier , Everfast , and For the Top  all merit consideration. Salute The Soldier looks to become the first two-time winner of the event.

Also in the feature is Avant Garde , a Tonalist   gelding previously trained in Florida who finished third in last year's Godolphin Mile (G2) on World Cup night. Now under the care of Bhupat Seemar, he comes off a seventh-place effort in the Maktoum Challenge Round 1 Presented by Nakheel (G2) in January going a mile.

"He's a giant horse. He's 17 hands, so it's very hard to get him fit, and a mile is too short for him anyway," said Seemar. "That run was to help get him ready and hopefully now this is his right trip. The way he ran in the Godolphin Mile ... he came from last in the straight and flew home. He was eating up the ground so you'd think he's a mile-and-a-quarter horse."

The remainder of the card also provides an opportunity for the cream of the Meydan residents to show they're ready to take on the invaders.

Barney Roy  resurfaces in the Jebel Hatta Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1T), 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) on the turf. Now 8, the Excelebration  gelding was last seen finishing ninth behind Lord Glitters  in the Bahrain International Trophy (G3) at Sakhir Nov. 19—one of only two starts from him in 2021. Lord Glitters returns with the benefit of a sparkling win over the Meydan course Feb. 11 in the Singspiel Stakes (G2T).

Barney Roy and Lord Glitters both will have to be on their toes as the Jebel Hatta field includes some heavyweight competition. Trainer Charlie Appleby also will saddle Zakouski  and Highland Avenue . Alfareeq  enters off a second-place finish in the Zabeel Mile (G2T) Jan. 28.

Emaraaty Ana , a 6-year-old Shamardal  gelding, looms a solid favorite in a big field set for the Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G3T) at 1,200 meters (about six furlongs). A group 1 winner in England last year, the Kevin Ryan trainee reported fourth in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) at Del Mar in his most recent start.

Hukum , a Shadwell homebred 5-year-old by Sea The Stars , is fancied on the international markets for the Dubai City of Gold Sponsored by Emirates Skywards (G2T) over 2,410 meters (about 1 3/4 miles) on the turf. He was a multiple group race winner in England in 2010 and stretches out to this distance.

The Al Bastakiya Sponsored by Emirates Holidays for 3-year-olds at 1,900 meters (about 1 3/16 miles) on the dirt lured Get Back Goldie , another member of O'Neill's successful raiding party. The Goldencents   colt jumped up to a surprise victory in his first start at Meydan Feb. 1 and O'Neill opted to skip the intervening UAE Two Thousand Guineas (G3) with an eye to the UAE Derby (G2) on World Cup night, when the competition will be several degrees of separation tougher.

Before shipping to Dubai, Get Back Goldie finished ninth in the Cecil B. DeMille Stakes (G3T) at Del Mar.

Godolphin has a strong hand in the Ras Al Khor Sponsored by Emirates Airline at 1,400 meters (about seven furlongs) on grass. Path of Thunder, a 5-year-old Night of Thunder  gelding trained by Charlie Appleby, finished fourth in the Zabeel Mile Presented by Emaar Beachfront (G2T) in his most recent effort. Storm Damage, a 4-year-old, also by Night of Thunder, comes off a recent win over the course for Saeed bin Suroor.

The Mahab Al Shimaal Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G3) over 1,200 meters (about six furlongs) on dirt looks like a wide-open affair with Canvassed , Al Tariq,  and Freedom Fighter  likely to be in the mix. Another O'Neill charge, Notre Dame , an Into Mischief   gelding, returns from an upset win at course and distance last week.

O'Neill has yet another live candidate in the Burj Nahaar Sponsored by Emirates Skycargo (G3) at 1,600 meters (about a mile) on dirt in Strongconstitution . The 5-year-old Constitution   gelding finished second to Hypothetical in the Firebreak Stakes (G3) in his debut.