Ryan Moore: Good chances among my seven rides on Dubai World Cup day

Ryan Moore
24 March 2023
4:00 min read

Betfair ambassador and jockey Ryan Moore

Ryan rides seven at Meydan on Saturday

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Betfair ambassador Ryan Moore returns for another season in the columnist's saddle with an exclusive preview of his seven rides, and their opponents, at Meydan on Saturday...

Ryan's back with seven rides at Meydan on Saturday
Broome has better chance than his odds
Sight could taste Success and Cairo looks classy

Better chance than his odds suggest

12:40 - Broome

He is getting on at seven years old but the fire is still shining pretty brightly, and he ran well in Doha last month. I think it's the right call to send him over 2m again - his only other start at the trip was back in 2020 - and his Group 1 1m4f pace will stand him in good stead here.

If he returns to the form of his Hardwicke win last summer, and sees out the trip adequately, then he must have a fair chance, although it does look a deep enough race and his draw in stall one could be problematic, I guess.

I gather he is around a 16/1 shot and he may have a slightly better chance than those odds suggest, for all the likes of Siskany, very impressive here last month, have strong, obvious claims.

With luck he's a fair shot of winning

13:15 - Sight Success

I haven't ridden him before but he is clearly a high-class sprinter in Hong Kong, better than ever this year as a 6yo, and his third to Lucky Sweynesse last time got a timely boost when the winner took the big 7f Group 1 at the weekend.

Recent Meydan winners Al Suhail and Al Dasim are two to respect but I think my horse has strong each-way claims and hopefully a fair shot of winning this if luck goes his way. Historically, Hong Kong sprint form is as good as it gets and he has a very solid chance if he gets the breaks.

Classy Cairo can go well

13:50 - Cairo

He probably only did what he was entitled to do on his return at Dundalk earlier in the month but he was beating in-form, race-fit rivals, and he was just ready to start off, so I'd take a very positive view of the run. He was one of those typical Aidan slow-burners at two, progressing steadily throughout the season.

He was just touched on his debut for me at the Curragh in August and ended up winning his Group 3 by nearly three lengths in October from a subsequent winner. He is a classy sort who we obviously hope and expect to go on to better things at three.

Again, it looks a very competitive race, albeit one lacking a stand-out, but I' be hopeful he will go well if he handles the conditions.

Locals should shine in race without standout

14:25 - Sibelius

His American form probably needs improving on but he is progressing, coming here on the back of a career-best over 7f at Gulfstream from a consistent sort - I had a good look at that race - so let's see.

I don't think there is a stand-out going into this race either, so it is all to play for. Lemon Pop doesn't look an obvious sprinter to me, and the Japanese dirt sprint division isn't that strong, and I think the local dirt horses like Switzerland could be the ones to focus on here.

Must raise his game against Japanese

15:10 - Order Of Australia

He puts in the odd below-par run but he generally tends to run his race, and he is a genuine Group 1 operator at his best. He deservedly got his head in front when winning at Doha last month and I can see this test suiting him, especially if he gets away smartly into a prominent position and into a good racing rhythm from stall one.

Ryan Moore close up 1280.jpg

However, he is obviously an outsider in here and he clearly needs to raise his game as the Japanese challenge in particular is formidable, headed by their Derby winner Do Deuce and the impressive Serifos, not to mention the likes of Nations Pride.

It is a race with a lot of Group 1 depth, but the Japanese probably look the ones to beat and I'd be with Serifos here. He is a very good horse and has more speed than Do Deuce.

Oh, and I do think Danon Beluga shouldn't be overlooked at what looks a decent price. I have actually sat on him and I liked him, and his form looks pretty strong, with the prospect of more to come given his profile.

Equinox will be hard to beat

16:00 - Westover

He probably didn't quite run up to his best when we last saw him in the Arc, but he clearly didn't run badly at all to finish sixth on ground softer than ideal and I can see him going pretty well here. He was obviously unfortunate not to finish a good deal closer to Desert Crown at Epsom, and then spreadeagled the field in the Irish Derby, and he would be a fair rival to all on those showings.

The Arima Kinen and Tenno Sho winner Equinox will have plenty to say about who wins this and he sets the clear form standard. He could prove very hard to beat, as I think he is an unbelievable talent. He can do one or two things wrong in his races but basically I think if he settles, he wins. He bolts up here on his Arima Kinen form.

I will put in a good word for Win Marilyn though, who could have been underestimated in the betting. She's very good and I'd certainly be considering her each-way at her price.

Each-way shot in competitive race

16:35 - Jun Light Bolt

I rode him when he finished seventh in a very strong Saudi Cup last month and he shaped pretty well there. A lot more will obviously be required here but he developed into a very good horse on dirt in Japan in 2022, winning his Grade 1 from Crown Pride, who also goes here - I actually rode in that race back in December - so I'd give him an outside each-way shot at a price.

This may be a very competitive race but there is certainly no stand-out once again. I wouldn't know what to expect from the Japanese here and Algiers has a chance if he can reproduce his recent form stepping up in grade, but Country Grammer strikes me as the most likely winner once again. The fact that he is the 5/2 favourite tells you this isn't the strongest renewal but he has the best credentials, even though stall 14 may not be ideal for him.

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