Best bets for the horse racing Friday 25th February for the Dubai Carnival at Meydan

It’s the last of this year's supporting card meetings of the Dubai Carnival out at Meydan this Friday with Dubai World Cup Carnival Super Saturday and the Dubai World Cup night left after this in March. I have just the two fancies for the meeting but I fancy them both strongly.  

Best bets for the horse racing at Meydan – The Dubai Carnival

The 1m2f Group Three Dubai Millennium Stakes Presented By Lincoln on the Turf track at 3.45 is the main event. I went against Star Safari in the Listed Zabeel Turf in January and the gelding duly won! The six-year-old clearly has a chance here and William Buick has stuck with him. I am ignoring him again though. I tipped Royal Fleet back in January when he was second in the G.2 Al Rashidiya over 1m1f and mentioned him as the danger when second again (I was on Zakouski) over that same trip in the G.2 Singspiel Stakes earlier this month with only Lord Glitters too good for him that day. He has seen out that nine-furlong trip well on both occasions with his efforts suggesting the extra furlong today will suit. James Doyle rides again and I have the 15-8 overnight. Charlie Appleby told the Godolphin website “Star Safari won this race last year and has enjoyed a nice preparation again, winning over the same trip in the Zabeel Turf on his most recent start. A repeat of last year’s performance is going to make him the one to beat. Royal Fleet is progressing with each run and comes into this on the back of two very good efforts over nine furlongs in strong company. We are hopeful that the step up to a mile and a quarter will suit, and he looks a live player as well.”

At 4.20 it is the 1m2f Jumeirah Derby Preented By Al Tayer Motors on the Turf track. I have tipped New Kingdom twice out of his three runs to date. I backed him on his debut when fifth, wanted to back him at Haydock when he won but he was odds-on, and was then on again when he was second here in Dubai back in January over nine furlongs, was backed to odds-on jolly that day. I have stated before I think a mile-and-a-quarter will be his game as he matures being a son of Dubawi out of winning mare Provenance (Galileo) so today's trip looks ideal. I normally wouldn't but I have taken 4-5 overnight as he looks such a good thing. I have talked of the other Appleby runner Nations Pride before but he looks to be set for minor honours at best with Seb Maarib actually feared most.  

Be lucky