Super Saturday at Meydan opens with the Al Bastakiya, a listed race for 3-year-olds over nine furlongs on the dirt. A few contenders are on a retrieval mission, having come up short in the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas on Feb. 11, including the third and fourth that day, Capezzano (Bernardini) and Qatar Man (Ire) (Archarcharch). The latter was having his first start on dirt on that occasion and with plenty of scope for improvement he could be ready to make an impact. Godolphin's Capezzano certainly has the form in the book but he may be vulnerable to a less-exposed contender. His trainer Charlie Appleby said a step up in trip will suit him and he commented, “Capezzano's third in the UAE 2000 Guineas was a pleasing run–we went out to give Thunder Snow a race and it cost us second place. I am looking forward to stepping him up in trip and he should go well.”
Previous to his third in the UAE Guineas Capezzano had made his experience count when defeating the Mike De Kock-trained newcomer Fawree (Candy Ride {Arg}) in a maiden on Dec. 29. De Kock's horse proved a more streetwise individual on his next start when he trounced Bee Jersey (Jersey Town) by five lengths in a maiden Jan. 12 and although this represents another step up in class he can be fancied to turn the tables on Capezzano with further experience under his belt. Cosmo Charlie (Stay Thirsty) boasts a rating of 107, the highest in the field, but it is debatable if that mark flatters Doug Watson's colt. He comfortably beat Capezzano on debut in December before just being reeled in close home by Fly At Dawn (Discreet Cat) in the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial on Jan. 26. He needs to bounce back from a disappointing effort in the UAE 2000 Guineas when a well-beaten sixth behind Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}).
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