Dermot Weld's Pine Dance, twice successful in the US last season, bids for his third foreign success in Dubai tomorrow at Nad Al Sheba. The winner of the American and Pennsylvania Derbys is scheduled to make his seasonal bow in a valuable conditions race over a mile.
Not that the £21,858 dirt race will be a cakewalk for Pat Smullen's mount, whose five rivals include Godolphin's UAE Derby winner China Visit. The latter has already won at the course this year and is clearly his stable's number one hope as well as the one they all have to beat.
The feature $250,000 UAE 2,000 Guineas sees Willie Haggas' Count Dubois, the Italian Gran Criterium winner, square up to seven rivals.
These include a formidable Godolphin quartet whose principal aces could prove to be Street Cry (Frankie Dettori) and Noverre.
Weld has entered Jammaal in the first French group race of the season, the Prix Exbury, at Saint-Cloud on Saturday week.
