Mystic Guide seeks win at Jim Dandy Stakes

Dubai: Mystic Guide looks to follow an illustrious path when he makes a second consecutive Graded race appearance the G2 Jim Dandy Stakes at Sarin on Saturday.

The nine-furlong dirt contest, which is usually run in late July, has been won by some outstanding horses, with top Darley stallions Medaglia d’Oro, Bernardini and Street Sense all featuring on the roll of honour.

Mystic Guide, who is trained by Michael Stidham and ridden by Jose Ortiz, stayed on well from the rear to take third over the same course and distance on his G3 debut in the Peter Pan Stakes in July.

The three-year-old colt had previously shown a good level of form over an extended mile, chasing home subsequent G1 runner-up Tap It To Win in a Belmont Park allowance race in June and scoring by five lengths in a Fair Grounds maiden in March.

Michael Stidham said: “This is the race we have been pointing towards with Mystic Guide for some time. We have put blinkers on him in the mornings and they seemed to have helped, although we will find out for certain in the race. He needs to be a little more forward down the back, which is what we are looking for with the blinkers.

“He suffered with the kickback in the Peter Pan but ultimately he needs to break and get a better position from right out of the gate.

“When he got into the stretch last time, Jose Ortiz switched him out, which is when he started running. We are hoping for a better position early on without overusing him and hopefully our finish will get us home in front.”

Meanwhile, G2 winner Dark Vision drops back down in trip for the G3 Superior Mile at Haydock Park, UK, on Saturday.

The Mark Johnston-trained four-year-old stormed to victory in the G2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood as a juvenile and has bounced back to form form this season, winning over a mile in both the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot and Pontefract’s Listed Pomfret Stakes.

On his latest outing, Dark Vision (William Buick) kept on at the same pace to come home sixth in the G3 Strensall Stakes over nine furlongs at York Aug.22.

All the while, Promising juvenile Cloudbridge looks to atone for a disappointing Group-race debut as he switches to Polytrack for the G3 Sirenia Stakes over six furlongs at Kempton Park, UK, on Saturday.

The Hard Spun colt created a huge impression on his first start when readily winning a seven-furlong novice race at Leicester at the beginning of August.

Cloudbridge (James Doyle) was pitched into G3 company for the Acomb Stakes over the same trip at York on Wednesday, 19 August, in which he trailed home last after racing freely.

His trainer Charlie Appleby said: “Cloudbridge won his maiden impressively but disappointed in the Acomb Stakes. He didn’t settle on that occasion and we are putting a hood on him this time.

“With his pedigree, we are optimistic about him handling the Polytrack, while we are hoping that the drop to six furlongs will help him to rediscover the promise he displayed on his debut.”