Adam Williams presents his prediction for the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Joel Stakes (Group 2, 1m, 3yo+) horse racing event.
Ice Max started the season with two mile wins but didn't perform quite well in listed and Group 3 races. However, in his last outing, Karl Burke's charge managed to secure a victory in the Celebration Mile Stakes at Goodwood, narrowly defeating favourite Poker Face, who is also in this race.
After being beaten by Ice Max, Poker Face finished fourth in the Irish Solonaway Stakes. The five-year-old gelding from Simon & Ed Crisford's stable is yet to register a win this year, so it will be interesting to see how he fares this Friday.
Four-year-old Prague was trained by Aidan O'Brien until this year but hadn't raced. He was eventually bought by Cunha’s head lad Amedeo Dal Pos for just 10,000 guineas. For his new trainer, he won his debut start and has been placed three times since.
Lead Artist is a three-year-old who missed the two-year-old season but has already raced five times this year. His first start was on this very Rowley Mile, where he finished second. He then convincingly won at York, placed third at Newmarket (albeit on the July course), followed by a triumph in the Group 3 Thoroughbred Stakes. All these were mile races, before he tried 7F for the first time and narrowly lost to Kinross. Among all the runners, John & Thady Gosden’s trainee appears the most favourable for a win with 11/4 odds on bet365.
