Weights give Dubai's Touch a winning chance in feature

IAN PAUL, Racing Correspondent

Published on 1 Aug 2008

If ever a Scottish raider deserved a jackpot prize down south it is Jim Goldie�s Dhaular Dhar, who has twice come tantalisingly close to lifting a major handicap this season.

If ever a Scottish raider deserved a jackpot prize down south it is Jim Goldie's Dhaular Dhar, who has twice come tantalisingly close to lifting a major handicap this season.

The Uplawmoor trainer's six-year-old came within a length and a quarter of winning the £93,000 that came with the totesport International at Ascot last month, and a few weeks earlier he had been just half a length away from earning the more modest, but still worthwhile, £37,000 that was available in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at the same track.

He goes for another bumper payout at Goodwood today when he tackles the totesport Mile, which is worth more than £93,000 to winning connections. On ability, he has as good a chance as any of the 20 contenders, but two things are working against him. He is drawn No.2, which is not encouraging as the lowest stall of any winner in the past 10 years was eight, and all the others have been 12 and over.

Also, while Dhaular Dhar is capable of winning over a mile, his best form seems to be at seven furlongs. Nobody has told the horse these things, of course, and he might just confound the stats.

However, if it proves too difficult for him and other low-drawn candidates, then among those with high hopes would be Dubai's Touch, Masaalek, Fifteen Love and Cape Hawk.

It is no surprise to see two of that quartet, Masaalek and Fifteen Love head the market. They met in the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot over this trip, when the latter beat his rival by half a length, but as they were separated by the width of the course, it is difficult to know if the 1lb that Masaalek gains will matter much. Marcus Tregoning's charge has been so consistent that it is hard to see him not maintaining his record of never being out of the first three so far in his six races.

His trainer, however, has his eye on the weather. "He's out of a Darshaan mare, so hopefully if we do get a bit of rain he'll be fine, but I don't know what he'd be like on softish ground," said Tregoning.

Meanwhile, William Knight has urged punters not to give up on top weight Illustrious Blue. The five-time Goodwood winner was a shade disappointing in a 10-furlong handicap on Tuesday, but connections hope the re-application of a visor works the oracle. "He ran here the other day but the race wasn't run to suit him," said the trainer. "We're going to have another go, though, as he loves Goodwood."

The bottom weight, Cape Hawk, has also done well this season and still looks on a handy mark, but my pittance will be going on Dubai's Touch (3.30). The Mark Johnston-trained colt was giving Masaalek 10lb when they were close-up third and fourth behind Lovelace at Sandown over this distance. He is 3lb better off and that could give him a winning edge.

In the Coutts Glorious Stakes, Galactic Star could be another for Ryan Moore but, among other big rivals, the Jeremy Noseda-trained Sixties Icon (2.15), who was an easy winner here over 10 furlongs in May, should be even happier over the extra two furlongs.

Waffle (4.05) can make it a double for Noseda in the Richmond Stakes, while Baby Strange (2.50) is a hopeful choice in the Rolf Group Stewards Sprint.