The Firebreak Stakes

My race of the week is the Firebreak Stakes Sponsored By Dubal . This is a Listed contest over 1600m at Meydan tonight and fourteen horses are declared to run in this the fifth race.  As the horses are all racing off 57 Kg we need to look at the handicap ratings first to establish who is seen as the best horse in the race.

In this race the top rated horse is Musir trained by, the leading trainer at this year’s Dubai International Racing Carnival, Mike de Kock. The son of Redoute’s Choice has not been seen since Dubai World Cup night last year when he won the UAE Derby. The five year old who has only been beaten once in his life will be a hard nut to crack and de Kock reported last week at Meydan that “we are looking forward to seeing  Musir, he has been training well.”  Stable Jockey takes the ride and the second stable runner is Imbongi ridden by Kevin Shea. Imbongi chased Mendip home in the first round of the Al Maktoum Challenge and is sure to be on the premises too.

Everytime Il Grande Maurizio has run at this years Carnival his stable have been very hopeful. Gelarni Siddiqui, Assistant Trainer to Ali Rashid Al Raihe said: “We are very hopeful of a big run.”

Comeradeship ran at the Spring Meeting on Saturday and had he not missed the start he may well have won. Rashid Bouresly commented: “he has shown his wellbeing and should be just right for the Firebreak providing he starts well.”

Dandy Boy was very impressive winning the Dolce Vita Handicap and definitely deserves to take this progression in class. His trainer David Marnane reported: “His long term objective is the Godolphin Mile, a Group 2 over a mile on the Tapeta, on Dubai World Cup night.” The son of Danetime is owned by Malih Al Basti, a board member and prominent supporter of UAE racing, and there will not be a morepopular victory should the five year old oblige again.

The team with the most winners at the Carnival is Godolphin and they are represented by three runners and Skysurfers is their first string. Having his first run in the UAE this season he will be an interesting runner having been third in the Godolphin Mile in 2010. Gayego  should not be by any means to be a second string having won a Grade 1 race and with the aid of the stylish Ted Durcan he will be a strong challenger.

Other notable runners are Cat Junior now trained in Sweden by his new trainer Niels Petersen, Green Coast trained by Doug Watson and the highly rated Bankable trained by Herman Brown.

It is a terrifically competitive race and I have been scratching my head about what to go for and after in the end I will have to colour in the number  13 for Musir to win this year’s edition of the Firebreak Stakes.