Etched bids to rebound in Al Bastakiya

Nashua S. (G3) winner ETCHED (Forestry), who suffered his first career loss when finishing a one-paced fourth in the February 14 U.A.E. Two Thousand Guineas (UAE-G3), has been entered in the $150,000 Al Bastakiya on the Super Thursday program at Nad al Sheba. The about nine-furlong contest attracted a total of 12 early entries on Monday, with the final field to be declared Tuesday.

Two-for-two when trained by Kiaran McLaughlin last year, Etched was promoted to Godolphin and shipped to Dubai. The chestnut made his sophomore debut for Saeed bin Suroor in the about one-mile Guineas, but was unable to threaten the formidable Mike de Kock pair of HONOUR DEVIL (Honour and Glory) and ROYAL VINTAGE (Rich Man's Gold). Etched was beaten a total of six lengths by Honour Devil and must improve substantially to turn the tables on the Argentinean-bred.

Guineas runner-up Royal Vintage turned in a commendable effort to go down by only a half-length, despite returning from a lengthy layoff. A Group 2 winner in his native South Africa, Royal Vintage figures to move forward off his first outing of the year.

Other notable pre-entries include NUMAANY (A.P. Indy), Godolphin's second-stringer who wound up fifth in the Guineas; Team Valor International and Gary Barber's AQUINO (First American), exiting a ninth in the Guineas; and Irish Group 2 hero LIZARD ISLAND (Danehill Dancer), who was last seen finishing fourth to Honour Devil in a January 24 conditions race.

The Al Bastakiya is the middle leg of the U.A.E. Triple Crown, leading up to the final jewel, the March 29 U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2) on Dubai World Cup night.

The Super Thursday card features four other prep races for the World Cup extravaganza. ASIATIC BOY (Not for Sale), who swept last year's U.A.E. Triple Crown for de Kock, is the headliner in the $200,000 Burj Nahar (UAE-G3), an about one-mile event. De Kock also holds a strong hand in the $300,000 Maktoum Challenge Round 3 (UAE-G2) with LUCKY FIND (Rich Man's Gold), who steps up to about 1 1/4 miles after rolling to victory in the Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (UAE-G3) last time out. Both are prime contenders for the $6 million World Cup.

Godolphin's Grade 2-winning sprinter DIABOLICAL (Artax) is the highest-rated pre-entry in the $200,000 Mahab al Shimaal (UAE-G3). The about six-furlong dash down the straight is a stepping stone to the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1).

Turf stars will also be in action on Super Thursday. The $250,000 Jebel Hatta (UAE-G2) at nearly nine furlongs features the Dubai debut of the sensational New Zealand mare SEACHANGE (Cape Cross [Ire]), who is prepping for the $5 million Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1) at the same trip. Among the marathon set, German Group 1 king QUIJANO (Ger) (Acatenango) is back to defend his title in Thursday's $200,000 Dubai City of Gold (UAE-G3) at about 1 1/2 grassy miles.