Etched out of Al Bastakiya

The final declarations for the Super Thursday card at Nad al Sheba were released on Tuesday, and a notable withdrawal was Nashua S. (G3) winner ETCHED (Forestry), who will skip the $150,000 Al Bastakiya. Only seven horses, led by the formidable Mike de Kock pair of HONOUR DEVIL (Honour and Glory) and ROYAL VINTAGE (Rich Man's Gold), will contest the about nine-furlong event, which serves as the middle jewel of the U.A.E. Triple Crown.

Honour Devil and Royal Vintage dominated the first leg of the classic treble, the February 14 U.A.E. Two Thousand Guineas (UAE-G3) at about one mile, and it will take significant improvement from their rivals to challenge. Honour Devil is two-for-two so far in Dubai, having romped by 5 1/4 lengths in a January 24 conditions event before his determined half-length tally in the Guineas. Johnny Murtagh will be back aboard.

Royal Vintage turned in a commendable effort in the Guineas, 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. Kevin Shea has the return call.

In the absence of Etched, Godolphin relies on NUMAANY (A.P. Indy), who wound up fifth in the Guineas. Team Valor International and Gary Barber's AQUINO (First American), exiting a ninth in the Guineas, is another notable runner.

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