Tom's Meydan selections

2.45 BUSKER 10/1 ew

3.20 FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH 12/1 ew

3.55 MUHTARAM 11/1 ew

4.30 SLIPPER ORCHID 4/1

5.05 SIRIUS PROSPECT 9/1 ew

5.40 VERCINGETORIX 7/4 NAP

6.15 HUNTERS LIGHT 4/1 & SCIGHERA 16/1 ew

Tom's Meydan selections

22 / 01 / 15

Putting these up early because I'm going on holidays and won't have another time to post them before Thursday. None of the races have been priced up yet so ill be going each way on any of the selections above 8/1 . The carnival is really starting to heat up now with more of the big guns making their entrance. Best of luck f your having a bet on the card and with my selections .

Race 1 Genius Step - has vital winning course and distance form with a win last time out. Has the services of top UAE jockey in Richard Mullen. This isn't a stacked field and I'd be disappointed if he didn't take a hand.


Race 2 Energia El Gigante - I'm assuming this one is going to be a big enough price to play each way. Pretty sure there has never been a Scandinavian winner at the carnival but I think this fella could change that . 2 from 2 over the distance with his last win been in a very quick time. Will handle the surface.


Race 3 Street Act - not a race to be confident in. Street Act has ran very well on the new surface with a win and a second from two runs. Has a handy light weight and a good draw in the middle.


Race 4 Rock Cocktail - Rock Cocktail is a real interesting horse. Has top class back form in his native South Africa when just fading over 10f against one of the stars of the carnival and multiple group 1 winner Vercingetorix . There is nothing of that level in this field. Can have the tendency to pull hard,c could be the new South African star for Mike De Kock.


Race 5 Tamarkuz - missed the break completely last time out before been touched off by an ultra improving young horse in Faulkner over 7f . Given that I have Faulkner as one to follow at the carnival I expect a big run from this lad. Extra furlong wont be a problem. Surprised Hanagan isn't riding him.

Samurai Sword would be an ew play if he opened bigger than 8s


Race 6 Shaishee - Odds will shorten a lot if I'm successful in the previous race. Just touched off by Tamarkuz into third over course and distance . Two wins and a third on the new surface. Ran a bit free on the lead last time. Not all taken on Safety Check , RED RAY would be my pick of the MDK brigade , ran in 4 consecutive grade 1s with out been disgraced .  In the colours of super star Variety Club .Will play this one if an each way price.


Race 7 Fire Fighting

Tom's Meydan 08/01/15

Happy new year everyone..  Finally back to been able to put up a blog . Might not be daily like before but every chance I get I'll get a blog up (bare with me)t.. Will cover every Meydan meet all the way up to the amazing Dubai World Cup night and all major races in the national hunt season. They'll have more details as time allows .


3:20 Longines Prima Luna Handicap -  Dragon Falls 10/1 ew


First part of the Godolphin attack at this years carnival and you cant rule out any of them. Dragon Falls is bred to take to the surface and I don't see the trip been any hinderance with plenty of stamina on the dams side. Has the joys of Adam Kirby taking the ride who's a very good Aw rider.


3:55 Longines Master Collection Handicap - Ahtoug 4/1



This was a close one between the selection and Hototo . Went with the selection because he ran in all the top sprints last year and retained a top level of form throughout. Course and distance winner last year closely beating Hototo(receiving 2lbs) in this race. Came up against the the same rival on level weights and finished ahead of Hototo again.



4:30 Longines Saint Imier - Shaishee 6/1


Selection has a great record on dirt with 37.5% win strike rate with 4 places from only 8 runs on the surface and has a 25% strike rate over the distance with four more placings over it. The choice of Paul Hanagan . Trained by master trainer Mike De Kock. Has the pace to win over 7f and the stamina to win over 8f. Could be hard to pass once hitting the front.



5:05 Singspiel Stakes - Sanshaawes 7/2


Not all gone on True Story, this came down to the MDK pair Mushreq & the selection. Mushreq won this last year but I've sided with Sanshaawes because of the race fitness. MDK has always thought of this horse as a group 1 horse. He's dropping down in grade massively having contested the QE11 group 1 at Sha Tin last time out . Can be a bit of headcase but I think he has the talent to overcome this and go on to bigger things at the carnival.



5:40 Al Maktoum Challenge Rd1 - Grand Salute 14/1 ew


Beaten by Surfer on his UAE debut but I seen room for improvement . Group 1 winner in South America by 8ls and previous South American form has translated well in the UAE. Bred to handle the surface now that he has had time to acclimatise properly to the new surroundings . Has top UAE trainer  and the services of top young jockey Oisin Murphy, I expect him to out run his doubled figured price.

Gold City would be another ew option against the fav at 25/1



6:15 Longines Conquest Classic - Iguazu Falls 20/1 ew


This lad is getting on in years ,now 10 years old. Much better on turf than on dirt/aw. The layoff should not be a problem having overcame the problem on his last two seasonal debuts here at the carnival . Had great form last year pushing Anaerobio (grp2 winner and 3rd in the Jebel Hatta ) twice last term going down by less than two lengths on both times. Any repeat of that form will she Iguazu Falls go very close.




Thanks for taking the time to read the post,
Tom.