Isivunguvungu looking a picture of health at Meydan before his big assignment on Saturday. (Picture: Chase Liebenberg).
All eyes will be on Meydan on Saturday as the Hollywood Racing-owed Isivunguvungu flies the South African flag in the Gr 1 Al Quoz Sprint, which is to be run at 16H20 SA time.
The 1200m trip on the turf is further than the strongly built What A Winter gelding’s ideal 1000m but that is only due to his tendency to take a strong hold. He showed he can win over this trip in the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint in 2023, where Richard Fourie took him to the front from a wide draw and he then managed to find extra when challenged.
Graham Motion has shown the ability to train horses with a change of running style in mind and, for example, Beach Bomb has been converted from a known hold up horse to a horse who has won two in a row from the front.
He should be able to instil a running style change in Isivunguvungu that will help him get home full of running.
Isivunguvungu is drawn seven out of eleven with Christophe Soumillon aboard.
Soumillon has ridden him twice before, both times over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, and he went close on both occasions, including in the Gr 1 Pongracz Cape Flying Championship where he finished a 1,55 length third behind two champions, Gimme A Prince and Rio Quaerari.
He faces a tough field on Saturday but Graham Motion said he could not have him any better and the courageous horse will be making abold bid.
Ed Marnane’s analysis of the race analsis is below:
Southern Hemisphere-bred sprinters have a good record in the race and the Australian-bred Howdeepisyourlove, representing Hong Kong, holds leading claims.
Trained by John Size, he has run third behind Ka Ying Rising, the world’s top sprinter, at Group 1 level in his last two runs at Sha Tin. He has the assistance of James McDonald and should go close to giving the in-form Size his first win at the fourth attempt in the Emirates.
Believing, bought by Coolmore at the Tattersalls December Sale, will be popular on her seasonal debut for George Boughey. It’s hard to fault her record and only a Group 1 victory is missing from her illustrious CV. This looks a good opportunity to make the breakthrough at the highest level and she has the services of William Buick, the leading rider at Meydan this year.
West Acre, the sole three-year-old in the field, has blossomed since arriving in Dubai and impressed winning in a track-record time in the Blue Point Stakes before following up in the Nad Al Shea Turf Sprint. He’s a progressive sprinter and possesses an electric turn of foot.
Audience, the highest rated runner in the race, returns after his winter break and John and Thady Gosden’s six-year-old can boast Group 1 success, winning the Lockinge Stakes, over a mile, at Newbury 10 months ago.
A confirmed-front runner, he could be hard to catch if allowed dominate as he’s a talented performer on his day, albeit has often disappointed many times.
Graham Motion’s Isivunguvungu, owned by Hollywood Racing, is a two-time Grade 1 winning sprinter that holds each-way claims at big odds. He shaped nicely in his prep over an inadequate distance at Tampa Bay Downs and South Africa has had success in the race.
Regional, a Group 1 winner sprinter at Haydock in September 2023 has an outstanding record off break, winning on his seasonal debut at two, three and five. He showed a decent level of ability last year, although he failed to get his head in front when restricted to just three appearances. He can’t be overlooked in a competitive event.
Local sprinters historically have largely struggled in the Al Quoz Sprint, as only three winners have kept the prize at home since the race was switched to Dubai World night in 2010 to coincide with the opening of Meydan.
Hopes rest with Marbaan, trained by Michael Costa and the lone UAE-trained runner. He comes here at the top of his game, building on an encouraging comeback at Abu Dhabi when winning the Al Fahidi Fort and the Ras Al Khor, both at Meydan.
He hasn’t raced over 1200m for almost two years and will need to take a big step forward to make an impression in this grade.
