Dubai / Stephen Molyneux / 27 March 2012 /

Peter Snowden's Helmet and Sepoy head a strong Australian challenge at the Dubai World Cup meeting and, according to Timeform ratings, both will be strong contenders in their respective races says handicapper Stephen Molyneux....

The Peter Snowden-trained runners, who tackle the tapeta surface at Meydan for the first time, will both be having their final outing before joining the Godolphin team for a European campaign and will be partnered by Sheikh Mohammed's retained jockey in Australia Kerrin McEvoy.

Helmet will line up in the Group 2 $US 2million UAE Derby over nine and a half furlongs (1900m) and, although beaten twice this term, stands out in ratings terms on the form he showed last year.

The 4-y-o held his form throughout an extensive campaign in 2011, winning no less than six times, and a repeat of the form he showed when winning the Caulfield Guineas would see him successful on World Cup night. The problem is that all of his best form has come over seven furlongs and a mile (1400m/1600m), and while there are legitimate excuses for his defeat over a mile and a quarter (2000m) in the Cox Plate last year, when taking on older horses, stamina will be at a premium at Meydan and any chinks in his armour will be exposed.

Fellow Peter Snowden inmate Sepoy heads Timeform's figures in the US $2million Dubai Golden Shaheen, and the winning machine has obvious claims.

Sepoy has consistently achieved Timeform ratings in the mid-to-high 120s, even in defeat last time, when fifth in the Oakleigh Plate conceding plenty of weight all round. His draw could have been kinder than stall 9, but it's possible he wouldn't want to be too close to that far rail, anyway. Singapore-based Rocket Man is also a strong contender having finished second in the Golden Shaheen in 2010 before going on to win the 2011 renewal.

Melbourne Cup form will also come to the table in the shape of Fox Hunt in the $US 1million Dubai Gold Cup.

Godolphin's Fox Hunt has positively thrived since his seventh behind Dunaden at Flemington in November, winning both of his starts in Dubai this year. Whilst Frankie Dettori has now switched to Opinion Poll, who was second behind Fox Hunt last time, Silvestre de Sousa is an excellent replacement and Fox Hunt could now offer some value.

Paul Messara's mare Ortensia takes her chance in the $US 1million Al Quoz Sprint over five furlongs (1000m), but while she won her final two starts in 2011 after leaving Tony Noonan, incuding a Group 1, Saturday represents a stiffer task.

Finally, we can't help but mention So You Think, who will line up as favourite for the world's richest race itself, the $US 10million Dubai World Cup.

Despite winning four times last year, So You Think never really grabbed the British racing public, well certainly not in the same way he had the Australian equivalent, but there is no doubting his top-class status.

So You Think ran poorly on an artificial surface in America when last seen, but he is likely to be better suited to racing on tapeta where races are often won at the two furlong mark, so expect to see him make his move at that point and be hard to catch.

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