Catch Me If You Can

The G1 Golden Shaheen is a wide open affair and a truly international Group 1 with challengers from Britain, Ireland, USA, Japan and Hong Kong taking on the home team of UAE runners. American trainers hold a strong hand in this dirt contest fielding three of the runners and it would appear each holds strong credentials. Chief among them may be Mind Your Biscuits (Posse) who brings Group 1 form to the table courtesy of his penultimate start when he beat Sharp Azteca (Freud) in the GI Malibu S. over seven furlongs at Santa Anita last December. He has since run second in a Grade 3 at Gulfstream Park Feb. 25 and has adapted well to his new surroundings according to his trainer Chad Summers who commented earlier in the week, “He shipped well and is very good right now. I couldn't be happier. I wish the race was tomorrow and I feel very confident.”

Drawn widest of all in stall 14 won't make life easy for him and on the other end of the draw spectrum is fellow U.S. challenger Stallwalkin' Dude (City Place). The 7-year-old doesn't seem to know how to run a bad race and he has posted some solid efforts at the top level without winning. His trainer David Jacobson's son and assistant Howard is also keen on his chances and said, “I really like how he's training and we haven't really changed any of his routine here. We've kept him comfortable and he is doing as well as you can ask for.” The American trio is completed by St Joe Bay (Saint Anddan) who comes into the race having rattled off three wins in succession most recently when he took the GII Palos Verdes S. at Santa Anita Feb 4.

The home team does mount a strong defence and the UAE's leading trainer Doug Watson fields two leading contenders in My Catch (Ire) (Camacho {GB}) and Cool Cowboy (Kodiak Kowboy). The former hasn't seen competitive action since beating 2016 Golden Shaheen winner Muarrab (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and Morawij (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) in a listed race at Meydan last December while Cool Cowbay also ties into that form by way of his head defeat to Morawij in the G3 Mahab Al Shimal on Super Saturday. Commenting on his pair Doug Watson said, “My Catch has terrific early speed which we hope he can utilise. Cool Cowboy is a bit more versatile tactically but both are in great shape.” Despite his advancing years it would be unwise to rule out the 11-year-old Reynaldothewizard (Speightstown). It would be a tremendous achievement for trainer Satish Seemar if the gelding could improve three places from last year's fourth position in the race and judging from his latest winning performance when he beat Muarrab in the Listed Dubawi S. Jan. 12 that is not impossible. Assessing his chances Satish Seemar said, “He always gives his best and has been a great servant to the yard who we expect another big effort from under conditions that really suit him.”