Europe or Japan: which global formlines will prove the strongest at Meydan?

Saturday: 3.55 Meydan
Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (Group 1) | 1m4f | 3yo+ | RTV/Sky

Dubawi made history when becoming the first sire to breed three winners at the Breeders' Cup and all three were trained by Godolphin handler Charlie Appleby.

The sire appears to have the world at his feet in 2022 and one of his Breeders' Cup heroes, Yibir, bids to provide Appleby with a third win in four years, following victories for Hawkbill and Old Persian in 2018 and 2019.

European middle-distance horses have generally dominated the Sheema Classic but this year the Asian challenge looks one of the deepest in recent times.

Stay Gold (2001), Heart's Cry (2006) and Gentildonna (2014) have all won it for Japan and Vengeance Of Rain was successful for Hong Kong in 2007. This year the Japanese saddle four well-fancied runners and Glory Vase is the best horse in the race on Racing Post Ratings.

Glory Vase achieved a 1lb higher figure than Yibir's Breeders' Cup win when landing the Hong Kong Vase in December by a length from the reopposing Pyledriver and that was his second victory in the race. His record fresh is exemplary too and Christophe Soumillon rides.

Glory Vase: denied Pyledriver in the Hong Kong Vase at Sha TinCredit: Hkjc

Two of the other leading Japanese contenders are ridden by European-born jockeys and Christophe Lemaire, who was on board Heart's Cry in 2006, is booked for Authority.

He was second, one place ahead of the reopposing Shahryar, in the Japan Cup last year but plenty thought Authority got first run on his rival and was flattered. The rematch is on here, with Cristian Demuro taking the ride on Shahryar.

Will Dubawi continue to dominate for Europe or can Japan usurp the superstar sire for the Far East? Whatever happens, this result can give a steer to which global form is the strongest.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

Rivals hoping for Lemaire to set the pace may be disappointed

Authority made every yard of the running over 1m2½f in Saudi Arabia last month but Christophe Lemaire is not expecting to adopt the same tactics over what is arguably the son of Oefevre's best trip here.

"When we broke well I felt we needed to play to his stamina out in front and that as long as he relaxed it would work out fine," said Lemaire.

Christophe Lemaire at Meydan on Wednesday morningCredit: Edward Whitaker

"If there are a couple of horses who like to get on with things, so much the better. Authority usually sits fourth or fifth with some cover to prevent him from pulling. Then he tends to have a sustained acceleration.

"He is progressing because when he won the Group 2 [Copa Republica Argentina] for the first time, two years ago, he wound it up slowly.

"But when he won the same race again last season and then finished second in the Japan Cup, he showed more finishing speed. He is a much better horse and so I have no need to ride one way or another."

What they say

Saeed bin Suroor, trainer of Dubai Future
He always tries hard in his races and has run well over this trip in the past, including an impressive win at the start of the season. He was fifth in this race last year and I’m hoping for another good effort.

Tomohito Ozeki, trainer of Glory Vase
His condition is good. He's travelled well and he did some reasonably strong trackwork last weekend. He is used to travelling now and I am hopeful he will run a good race.

Hukum (near side): gets the better of Without A Fight in the Dubai City Of GoldCredit: Edward Whitaker

Owen Burrows, trainer of Hukum
We hoped we were fit enough to get away with it in the City Of Gold and we were – just. He didn't have a hard race. Last year he picked up three Group 3s, twice carrying a penalty. These are the best in the world so it will tell us where we are and we'll know if we can think of King Georges and Arcs.

William Muir, trainer of Pyledriver
He's better than when we were in Hong Kong and I think Glory Vase was a very good winner – he only just got us in the last 100 yards. I think we'll run well up to that form and Glory Vase is well fancied. If we'd been drawn well in Saudi I think we’d have finished close to the winner. I think it's a very strong race but I'm very confident in my horse.

William Haggas, trainer of Alenquer and Dubai Honour
The track was all against Alenquer [at Lingfield] and although it was only a Group 3 I thought it was a strong race with Lord North in there, and he won nicely. He's trained really well and looks great, but he's got a little bit to find. Dubai Honour looks like he might get a mile and a half well. In the Hong Kong Cup [over 1m2f] he just got a little trapped at the top of the stretch and he came home really well. It looked like if I'd have run him in the Vase [over 1m4f] he would have been on top of them.

Kazuo Fujiwara, assistant and brother to Hideaki Fujiwara, trainer of Shahryar
He came through his gallop well on Wednesday. His gallop was strong in order to have him ready and he really stretched out nicely on the turf. He did have a bit of a look around but the rider flicked the reins and he focused again. I think gate eight is good as it allows him to stay out of trouble heading into the first turn.

Japanese Sheema Classic contender Uberleben at Meydan this weekCredit: Edward Whitaker

Mirco Demuro, rider of Stella Veloce
He often finds trouble in a race and we need some luck. He hasn't done anything too strenuous in the mornings but he's moving well.

Charlie Appleby, trainer of Yibir
It's a very competitive race, a great race to be involved with on World Cup night. Hopefully this will springboard him into his new season and there will be further travel with him. He has drawn 12 but that doesn't bother me. He's a hold-up horse anyway.

Takahisa Tezuka, trainer of Uberleben
We weighed her on Thursday morning and she was 468kg, which means she has regained all the weight she lost on the flight over. She is right on track after her gallop on Wednesday. I am happy with gate three – that gives her every chance.
Reporting by Scott Burton

Saturday's Meydan previews:

1.35 Meydan: Buick hopes he has made right choice picking 'very impressive' Man Of Promise

3.20 Meydan: 'They're bringing their complete A team' – can Lord North repel Japanese squad?

4.30 Meydan: 'As good as we've seen from any horse' – Life Is Good work has Pletcher purring

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