Spotlight on Grand Vent

Top weight Grand Vent, ridden by Frankie Dettori, looks good to claim the 2000m Al Dana Wealth Handicap (turf), the highlight of the 13th meeting of the Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan on Saturday night. Trained by Saeed bin Suroor for the Godolphin Stables at Al Quoz, the four-year-old colt by Shirocco makes his UAE debut after being lightly raced last year in France. He won a Gr-2 event over today’s distance under Maxim Guyon and finished second in a similar race over a longer distance before disappointing in a Group-1 contest at Chantille in June and never seen on track since then. Bin Suroor also saddles Quick Wit and Masteroftherolls in the same race. He said: “All three are in good form at home and both Quick Wit and Masteroftherolls have run good races at the Carnival already but Grand Vent has not run since June. He will improve for the outing but is a nice horse and is working well. I am looking forward to running him.” South African Mike de Kock is responsible for both Anaerobio and Rerouted. The former will be having his fifth 2012 Dubai World Cup Carnival outing and will be ridden by Mirco Demuro, while Kevin Shea partners Rerouted who will be having his fourth start at Meydan and is running for the third consecutive week. De Kock explained: “With the end of the Carnival fast approaching we are running out of opportunities so this looks a good chance for both of them. Rerouted has been busy in recent weeks but seems in good form at home and Anaerobio definitely seems to prefer the turf and has had a couple of weeks off. Hopefully both can run well.” De Kock’s compatriot Herman Brown opened his 2012 tally on Thursday with Bronze Cannon and Royston Ffrench will be in the saddle on the trainer’s Mikhail Glinka. Brown said: “Mikhail Glinka ran very well first time but has struggled a bit since. It was nice to get a winner on the board on Thursday and hopefully he will run well in a competitive race.” Australia’s Unusual Suspect and Scandinavia’s Grafitti give the race a truly international flavour alongside Summit Surge, trained in the UK by Luca Cumani, an Italian training in Newmarket as is Marco Botti who saddles Marcret who looks a big threat to all under Ryan Moore. Godolphin’s Tahaamah looks the Pick Six banker in the 2200m Mustaqbali all-weather handicap with Dettori riding for Bin Suroor. The horse was very unlucky over course and distance on his sole UAE outing to date, finding no room on that occasion and finishing second behind Tanfeeth. The four-year-old colt should gain compensation here.