Mike De Kock had very few runners at the early meetings but will be bringing out his big guns for the Carnival. Saltarin Dubai has won his last three at Palermo in Argentina including a Group 1 in June that has worked out very well. He's taking on a quartet of Doug Watson-trained runners with Pat Dobbs likely to have had first pick and choosing STORM BELT. A smart handicapper who finished runner-up to the brilliant California Chrome in February, he easily won a Listed contest here last month from stable companion Top Clearance, with Trinity Force just behind in third, and would take the world of beating in that kind of form. Sharpalo and Mizbah fought out the finish of a conditions race at Jebel Ali in November and the latter should come out best at the revised weights but a bigger threat may come from Hunting Ground, who Mickael Barzalona rode to victory on his reappearance last January and who had a pipe-opener behind the selection last time.
Saltarin Dubai (ARG) (0-0) won at Palermo 1m 2f in Jun
Storm Belt (USA) (9-0) won at Meydan 1m 2f lst stks fst in Dec beating Top Clearance (9-0) by 6 3/4l, 0 ran.
Top Clearance (USA) (9-0) 2nd of 0, 6 3/4l behind Storm Belt (9-0) at Meydan 1m 2f lst stks fst in Dec.
Hunting Ground (USA) (9-0) 8th of 0, 19 1/2l behind Storm Belt (9-0) at Meydan 1m 2f lst stks fst in Dec.
Jeeraan (USA) (9-1) 8th of 10, 24 1/4l behind Etijaah (8-9) at Meydan 1m 2f hcp fst in Nov.
Mizbah (8-13) 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Sharpalo (8-5) at Jebel Ali 1m 1f stks fst in Nov.
Prince Alzain (USA) (9-2) 7th of 0, 16 1/2l behind Mizbah (8-6) at Jebel Ali 1m 1f stks fst in Mar.
Sharpalo (FR) (8-9) 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Good Trip (8-11) at Jebel Ali 1m stks fst in Dec.
Trinity Force (IRE) (9-0) 3rd of 0, 7l behind Storm Belt (9-0) at Meydan 1m 2f lst stks fst in Dec.
