Course winners seek more Meydan success on Dubai World Cup Carnival week five

Valiant Prince, Soft Whisper and Global Heat look to strike at Meydan for a second time this year as the G2 Singspiel Stakes and G2 Cape Verdi provide the turf highlights on week five of the Dubai World Cup Carnival, Friday, 3 February.

Valiant Prince, who has won all three of his Meydan starts, bids for a second G2 prize over nine furlongs in the Singspiel Stakes having edged out Dubai Future and Ottoman Fleet in the Al Rashidiya on week two.

Last season’s G3 Bahrain International Trophy winner Dubai Future and dual Newmarket Listed scorer Ottoman Fleet both re-oppose, alongside last year’s G2 Al Rashidiya victor Desert Fire, who finished down the field on his seasonal return in the G2 Zabeel Mile.

Charlie Appleby said: “Valiant Prince has come out of the Al Rashidiya well. He has to carry a penalty for that win but has a nice draw in stall two and should be very competitive based on what he achieved last time out. 

“I feel Ottoman Fleet has come forward since the Al Rashidiya, when he travelled well before getting a bit tired in the last 100 yards. He is better at the weights with Valiant Prince this time, which should put him bang there.”

Saeed bin Suroor said: “Dubai Future ran well to finish second in the Al Rashidiya and this course and distance suits him. This is another tough race but he heads into it in good form.

“Desert Fire won nicely over this trip in last season’s Al Rashidiya but was disappointing in the Zabeel Mile. He came out of that race in good condition and I am hoping for a better performance this time.

Soft Whisper also faces familiar opposition in the G2 Cape Verdi. The four-time Listed scorer posted a neck verdict over White Moonlight in the Ipi Tombe Stakes on week two, a race in which Wild Beauty came home fourth.

All three take each other on again, with last season’s G3 Saratoga Oaks heroine With The Moonlight making her Carnival debut in the mile feature for fillies and mares.

Saeed bin Suroor said: “Soft Whisper is a tough filly, who always tries in her races, and came out of her win in the Ipi Tombe Stakes in good form. She has been going well at home and I’m looking for another success from her.

“White Moonlight is a big, strong filly, who is improving all the time. Her latest piece of work went well and the step back up in trip will suit. We are hopeful of another good effort.”

Charlie Appleby said: “With The Moonlight is clear on official ratings and, while the trip will be on the sharper side, I feel that the style of racing at Meydan will suit her. 

“Wild Beauty has definitely come on for her first start of the year and will hopefully be very competitive. I feel we have two fillies that should be bang there in the finish.”

Global Heat drops down to a mile and a half for the Vazirabad Handicap after taking the Listed Al Khail Trophy two weeks ago. The Saeed bin Suroor-trained five-year-old is joined by Dhahabi and First Ruler, who both ran well over the course and trip for Charlie Appleby on week one of the Carnival. 

Four contenders in the closing mile handicap include Tranquil Night, who makes his first appearance since disappointing in the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot. His trainer Charlie Appleby also runs Bay Of Honour, with Saeed bin Suroor relying on Wild Lion and Light And Dark.