Al Quoz Sprint - time for some Audience appreciation?

Our fifth article on the Dubai World Cup undercard on 5 April. This is the current“likely” final field for the Al Quoz Sprint as issued by the Dubai Racing Club, but some of the horses below may end up being withdrawn, and others might be added. As with any antepost bet, therefore, any wagering at this stage comes with the risk of total loss even before the gates open. The numbers in brackets after each horse’s name are the best bookmaker odds available at the time of writing.

Al Quoz Sprint – 6 furlongs on turf, Meydan, 5 April

A competitive heat as ever, but it looks more manageable for betting purposes than usual given a field size that is much smaller than in recent years. With different form lines coming from Europe, the Middle East, Hong Kong and Japan this has an open feel, but with markets having honed in on just three runners we’re going elsewhere for value with our recommendation.

Believing (4/1, Ladbrokes): Heavily campaigned at two when she showed more than a glimmer of class. Underwent wind surgery prior to her three-year-old campaign, in which she peaked at her first attempt at G1 level (3rd to Regional in the Haydock Sprint Cup, beaten less than a length). But it was at the age of four that she truly flourished. Flopped in the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize in Hong Kong in April on soggy ground after torrential rain, but returned to the UK to win a listed race before entering a golden spell of seven successive European sprint races at G2 or G1 level in which she rewarded each-way backers on every occasion, albeit winning only one. Her quality was never more evident than in the near misses at G1 level, not least in the Nunthorpe Stakes (York) and the Flying Five (Curragh) in the late summer of 2024, both of which she might well have won – rather than finishing runner-up to Bradsell – with a better draw. Sold by Highclere to the powerful Coolmore syndicate at the end of last year, she reappears here over a distance not contested since placing in last year’s Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. Clearly talented enough to win this, but at this price there are three negatives that make her unattractive as a betting proposition: In addition to the return to six furlongs for the first time in a while, her record on her seasonal debut is not stellar (didn’t win first time out at either 2, 3 or 4), while antepost bettors in particular should be mindful of occasional behavioural issues (two big-race withdrawals due to truculence in the starting gate).

Howdeepisyourlove (4/1, Bet365): Gelding trained in Hong Kong (never raced anywhere else) who has six wins from 27 starts, but only one win (at G3 level) in his last ten races. Add to that the fact that this horse has lost four of his last five starts to the same horse, typically by 3-4 lengths (albeit on one occasion by just 1.5 lengths) and you might wonder why he is vying for favouritism in this spot. However. The superior horse in question is Ka Ying Rising, the undisputed and (for now) untouchable global star of turf sprint racing, and Howdeepisyourlove’s form in his wake needs taking seriously. He appears to be continually underestimated at the highest level (his three placings behind KYR have been at prices of 35/1, 17/1 and 58/1) but he hasn’t been missed by the bookmakers here, so given the two unknowns confronting this gelding in this contest (first race over a straight six furlongs, first trip abroad) we won’t play. Obvious win threat though, should have the outstanding James MacDonald riding.

West Acre (9/2, BetVictor): Only made his debut as a three-year-old in October, but caught the eye when waltzing away with a novice race on the all-weather track at Southwell in the UK in late October. Has continued his relentless progress since coming out to the Dubai Racing Carnival: Failed by just a head to reel in decent yardstick Symbol of Honour in a conditions race over six furlongs in early January, stepped up to win the G2 Blue Point Sprint over five furlongs two weeks later (beating multiple stakes winner Ponntos by more than three lengths), then beat the same horse by less than a length to win the Nad Al Sheba sprint on Super Saturday (1 March). Dangerous to underestimate an improving young horse, but we are mystified why he is vying for favouritism in this deep, internationally represented Group 1, not least as he has never contested a race at this level.

Audience (8/1 generally): Raced only once as a juvenile (easy winner of novice race over 7 furlongs) but didn’t really progress as hoped at the age of three, running five times without winning. Appeared to have reached his full potential at the age of four, winning at G3 level and twice being placed in G2s at York and Doncaster (beaten less than a length by high-class Sandrine and Kinross respectively), these races all being over 7 furlongs. But it turned out the improvement trajectory hadn’t run its course: Made a stunning start to his four-year-old season in May 2024 by easily winning the G1 Lockinge Stakes over a mile at Newbury at 22/1 (that season’s champion miler Charyn almost 2 lengths behind in second). Well beaten a month later in the G1 Queen Anne at Ascot (eight lengths behind Charyn in fifth), prompting many observers to write off the Newbury performance as a flash in the pan, but he then delivered another performance of outstanding quality by winning the G2 Lennox Stakes at Goodwood in July by four lengths, despite carrying a 5lb G1 penalty. Disappointed as odds-on favourite for the G2 City of York stakes (dwelt in gates) in August, then returned after a break for the G1 Champions Sprint at Ascot in October but never featured on the prevailing soft ground. Evidently not a horse you can set your watch by, but his peak form is arguably the best on show here and it might be unwise to assume he can’t be as effective over six furlongs on the basis of that last Ascot run. Outstanding record fresh, major chance.

Regional (8/1 generally): Veteran of the British sprinting division (now seven). Like Audience, late to come to full maturity but now a G1 winner thanks to his victory in the Haydock Sprint Cup in September 2023. Last season’s campaign was shortened by injury niggles, but provided clear evidence that he was still a high-level sprinter: second in the G2 Greenlands Stakes (carrying a penalty) over six furlongs at the Curragh in May, another runner-up prize in a deep G1 King Charles III Stakes over five furlongs at Ascot in June (just a length behind Asfoora), before finishing a more modest fourth in the G3 Hackwood Stakes over six furlongs at Newbury in July. Has always run well fresh so there’s no reason to doubt his readiness for this contest, but his first mission outside of Europe will ask a different question. Obvious player as long as age hasn’t caught up with him.

Marbaan (14/1 Ladbrokes): Talented young sprinter for Charlie Fellowes in 2022 and 2023, winning the G2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood as a two-year-old and running well the following year without ever doing more than place in high-level sprint contests.  Transferred to the stable of Michael Costa in Dubai at the end of 2023, he proved relatively disappointing in his first Carnival season after two solid starts at G2 level (including a second in the Zabeel Mile). Has hit top form this year, however, with a runner-up placing in a strong listed race in Abu Dhabi in December being followed by two impressive wins over Mysterious Night over seven furlongs back at Meydan. That confirmed he is in the form of his life, but on the negative side he hasn’t raced over six furlongs for almost two years, nor does he have a race on his CV that suggests he can win this.

Isuvunguvungu (20/1 generally): Named to give commentators nightmares, but performed at a high level in South Africa in 2023, his peak effort being victory in a G1 sprint over this distance at Greyville racetrack in July of that year. Only one low-key run thereafter in South Africa before a career break of 245 days, following which he was rerouted to the stable of top US turf trainer Graham Motion. Won on debut at Colonial Downs last September, which served as a springboard for tackling the Breeders Turf Sprint at Del Mar in November. The bare data shows he was only 7th of 11 in that race, but the video of that race bears re-watching – he was badly squeezed and snatched up in the final furlong, so to be beaten only two lengths was a strong performance. Second (beaten half a length) in a prep run for this at Tampa Bay Downs but that was over an inadequate five furlongs. No shock if this dark horse is competitive here.

Mitbaahy NON-RUNNER

Danon McKinley (20/1 generally): Four-year-old who raced just twice the age of two (won on debut over 7f, eighth in a G1 over a mile). Ran six times last year, winning two G3 contests over seven furlongs but finishing down the field on the other four occasions. Comes here following a fourth-place finish in a G3 contest over 7 furlongs in February. As his only two races over six furlongs (both at Sapporo in August 2024) have seen him finish 6th and 7th respectively, it’s very difficult to see what chance he can have in this race.

Quinault (25/1 generally): Raced once for Godolphin/Charlie Appleby as a two-year-old in 2022, finishing last. Bought by his current owners in early 2023 and transferred to Stuart Williams, he became something of a sensation in the spring and summer of 2023, winning six handicaps on the trot, adding another in the autumn for good measure. Struggled in the spring of 2024 when forced into group races but then strung together three more wins at listed level in August and September. Made a respectable seasonal return in quite a strong G3 over 6 furlongs in Qatar a month ago and is now returned to the top level for the first time since Royal Ascot last year (when he was 11th of 13 in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, beaten just over six lengths). Admirable horse that anyone would be proud to own, but he’s surely out of his depth here.

Win Carnelian (25/1 generally):

Japanese veteran whose career peaked in 2022 and 2023 when he won one listed race and two G3 contests over a mile, as well as performing respectably in higher grades. Has been reinvented as a sprinter over the last year, and while he has run well in his two most recent runs (placed at G3 level over 6 furlongs in November 2024 and February 2025) it’s bewildering to see this eight-year-old flown to the Middle East to take part in a competitive G1 sprint for the first time. Would be a very surprising winner, nor does he appeal for the places.

Puro Magic (33/1 generally): Lightly raced four-year-old who hit peak form in the spring of 2024, recording back-to-back wins in G3 contests over 6 furlongs back in his native Japan. However, he has finished well down the field on his last three runs – despite being sent off by the betting public as favourite in two of those contests – and must recapture that earlier form if he is to stand any chance at all. Even that looks unlikely to be good enough.

Summary: Believing is an outstanding mare, West Acre offers the promise of the unexposed, and Howdeepisyourlove represents a line of form that bring in the best turf sprinter on the planet. But with that trio all trading at (or around) 4/1, it’s much more tempting to go with Audience at twice the price. He has off days, but they’ve rarely come on fast ground and never on his seasonable debut (three wins from three). For good measure, his two best runs from last season look about the best form on offer, so the widely available 8/1 more than compensates for the question mark over the drop in trip to six furlongs. Emphatically a win-only recommendation. Of the bigger prices, Regional looks as solid as any horse priced in double figures, while a strong performance from outsider Isuvunguvungu would come as no surprise. Await four-place terms (likely albeit not certain) for each-way betting purposes.