THIS nice headline action photo by Andrew Watkins is of El Estruendoso (yellow silks),  going down a head to Gabrial in perhaps his best Dubai run so far – a handicap over 1800m on turf staged on 23 January 2014.

It is worth noting that El Estruendoso had his useful stablemate Sanshaawes (in receipt of 0.5kg) a half-length behind him on this occasion and Sanshaawes went on to win two races thereafter – a pointer for those who swear by collateral form.

El Estruendoso is back on turf in the Jebil Ali Port over 2000m at Meydan on Thursday evening  – the second meeting of the 2015 Dubai Carnival.  This comes after his failure on sand last week –a run Mike de Kock describes as a “non-event”, and better is expected this time from a talented runner who has only won a single race from eight starts but is better than that.

He may not be quite as good as his 105-rating though, Mike believes El Estruendoso is not well handicapped for a horse who has only had three places in Dubai. But the race will show the stable where they find themselves with this five-year-old by Giant’s Causeway. Christophe Soumillon gets the ride.

Star Empire, eight years old and making another return to the Carnival, is the other De Kock runner in the Jebel Ali Port and Wayne Smith will be aboard. He needs the run, reports Mike, but always gives of his best and in his corresponding comeback run last year made the frame, close-up in third over the course and distance.

Mike sends out five other runners at the Thursday meeting and a further four at the meeting scheduled for Meydan this Saturday. Here are his comments for both meets:

Thursday:

Race 1: UAE 1000 Guineas Trial, 1400m on dirt:
Ad Idem (Paul Hanagan)
“It’s trial and error with the dirt track. Ad Idem is the first of our new South African arrivals to race and will need it, she is not as fit as she should be. She seems to get on with things on sand, but will be racing over the distance for the first time and the race will show where we stand with her.”

Ad Idem: New at Meydan, needs it.

Race 4: UAE 2000 Guineas Trial, 1400m on dirt:
Ajwad (Soumillon) and Mubtaahij (Dane O’Neill)
“Ajwad had three runs in Argentina for one turf win and a place on dirt, he will have his first run for us. His work has been good but he will improve for the run,  of the two I prefer Mubtaahij, who won over a mile on sand here and will like it further, but I’ve left him in. He’s a nice horse and this race on sand will harden them up and give us a line of form through some of the better three-year-olds. Dane O’Neill won on Mubtaahij, he knows the horse well and Christophe can’t make the weight.  Mubtaahij is probably my best on the night.”

Race 7: Mina Rashid, 1600m on turf:
Royal Ridge (Hanagan) and Captain Lars (Soumillon)
“Royal Ridge didn’t really raise a gallop on sand last week so that run doesn’t mean much, but he’s very well still and we’re expecting a good run back on turf. Captain Lars is another new arrival from SA, he’s exceptionally well but he looks a few pounds overweight, I’d say he’s about 75% of what he should be and he will improve with the run.”

Saturday (Non-Carnival Meeting):

Race 3: Handicap, 1200m on turf:
Journeyman (Smith) and Mastermind (Hanagan)
“Journeyman should run well. He was up with the pace in a dirt race over 1400m two weeks ago, reverts to six furlongs and turf which will suit him much better. Mastermind is a promising horse, another new arrival and he has a bit of a belly still, he is not wound up and expected to improve with racing.”

Race 4: District One Handicap, 1400m on dirt:
Alareef (Hanagan):
“Alareef has proved himself on the sand track at the Vaal, he will come on with run but we’re looking forward to seeing how his SA sand record will manifest on the dirt at Meydan, he should run well.”

Alareef: Proven on sand at the Vaal, how will he do at Meydan?

Race 5: District One Handicap, 1600mon turf:
Lehaaf (Smith) and Almoonqith (Hanagan)
“Lehaaf needed his last run on dirt, he is better on turf and we’ll be looking for a better performance in this race.”