Meydan 09 February 2017
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AF MATHMOON could hardly have been more impressive when winning an Arab Group 1 over C&D last month and, winner of the big Group 1 on Dubai World Cup night last year, the six-year-old should get the better of Love To Dance and Af Maqayes.
Top Score's third-placed effort behind Fly At Dawn in the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial last month reads well and, a winner on turf in the UK last year, he's expected to go very well. Megnaas didn't give his running in the aforementioned 2000 Guineas Trial and should perform a lot better but perhaps stable companion DAQEEQ is of more interest. An unexposed quantity, he is bred for dirt so it is interesting that he remains on grass for his Meydan debut after his impressive winning bow on the green stuff in South Africa last year. Grey Britain and Mirdif may prove best of the remainder.
TOP SCORE proved useful as a 2-y-o in Britain and ran creditably when third in the 2000 Guineas trial on dirt last month from a wide draw. The return to turf should suit and he looks set to go close. Masham Star and Island Vision didn't take to dirt in the same race, but will find this much more suitable, while Daqeeq is open to plenty of improvement having won his sole start in South Africa.
He has won three times from 1m to 1m 4f on the all-weather (1 PO), but last win was over two years ago. Finished 6l behind Cool Cowboy when fifth of 8 on his latest outing here over 1m in March last year.
He has won three times from 1m to 1m 4f on the all-weather (1 PO), but last win was over two years ago. Finished 6l behind Cool Cowboy when fifth of 8 on his latest outing here over 1m in March last year.
There was certainly some promise in Emotionless' dirt debut here last month but he didn't handle the left hand bend very well on that occasion and the form of that race was not boosted when the first four home in that event were well beaten in the Round 2 of the Al Maktoum Challenge here last week. That said, a horse who showed as much ability as he did as a juvenile cannot be discounted in a race of this nature. TRIPLE NINE had a few of these behind him when he was second to Hunting Ground over C&D last month, where he covered 10 metres more than the winner according to Trackus, and he should only improve for that run. The yard have already picked up a valuable handicap at Meydan this year and this five-year-old could prove to be very hard to beat this afternoon. Mizbah got the run of the race when he beat the aforementioned Hunting Ground here last time out and a 9lb rise will make life tougher for him today. Etijaah, Layl and Top Clearance would all have each-way claims if they're at their very best today.
TRIPLE NINE ran a fine race in second over C&D last time, finishing strongly despite not travelling early, and he's capable of going one better. Emotionless showed some promise on dirt last time and is up in trip and switched to handicap company now, while this should prove a good test with recent wide-margin winner Mizbah likely to take them along and he's a danger if in the same form.
A few of these know their way around here after recent spins and perhaps Roicead is the most interesting of them having recorded two victories here since joining his UAE-based handler in 2013. A return to the form of his narrow second to Sir Maximilian almost 12 months ago would see him go close, while Mastermind has been improving with each run here this season for Mike De Kock. With that in mind, it is interesting that Hamdan Al-Maktoum's stable jockey Jim Crowley has switched to the unexposed FANNAAN. Formerly with John Gosden, the five-year-old has only raced five times in his career and landed a conditions race for his old connections in 2014 before injury plagued him. He clearly has plenty of ability and could strike despite a 110-day absence.
SAAYERR was a Group 2 winner as a juvenile and shaped quite well over 5f last time when drawn away from the main action, while his yard have a good record in these contests, notably winning one last week. Line Of Reason is in good form and probably won't mind the step up to 6f, while Naadirr is well treated if able to bounce back from a poor return.
Really Special is bound to be very popular following her win in the trial for this race here three weeks ago and the daughter of Shamardal is the most likely winner of this event. That said, she had a dream run throughout that contest from stall three and the likes of COMPLIMENTI and Sasha Waltz found themselves covering much more ground. The Doug Watson-trained daughter of Congrats was only having her second career start on that occasion and she had to do plenty early on from her wide draw, which caused her to cover nine metres more than the winner on that occasion according to Trackus. Unfortunately she finds herself out wide once again but there are not as many runners in this field and her main rival is only two stalls inside her today. Sasha Waltz was back in fourth in the trial but she covered 13 metres more than Really Special and she may be underestimated in the market due to her connections. Rajar finished third in the that event but she did get the run of that race, while Fursa has to be noted given her form in South Africa. Nashmiah has won a Group 1 in her native Saudi Arabia and she should not be discounted, despite this race being a better event than that contest.
REALLY SPECIAL is unbeaten in 3 starts, notably taking well to dirt when comfortably landing the trial for this last time in which she had most of these behind. Given she's already proven over 1m too, she's the clear one to beat. Complimenti looks most likely to chase her home again, while Sasha Waltz was fourth that day, but will appreciate the extra 1f and isn't ruled out at likely big odds.
He has won three times from 7f to 1m on good to firm ground and on the all-weather. Beaten 20l behind Krypton Factor when 11th of 12 on his latest outing at Jebel Ali over 6f in March last year.
He has won three times from 7f to 1m on good to firm ground and on the all-weather. Beaten 20l behind Krypton Factor when 11th of 12 on his latest outing at Jebel Ali over 6f in March last year.
FLASH FIRE ran a fine race when chasing home Championship in the Group 2 Al Fahhidi Fort here two weeks ago and sets a good standard on that form. Charlie Appleby's charge wasn't ideally suited by the slow tempo of that race and returning to handicap company, in which he was an easy winner over this C&D previously, he looks to have plenty in his favour. First Selection can boast some strong European form, including when finishing second to The Gurkha in the French 2000 Guineas last season, and he should appreciate returning to turf having shaped well enough on the dirt here last time. Tahanee looks the pick of the Mike De Kock pair having finished fifth in Group 2 company latest.
TAHANEE has shown clear promise on both starts since joining this yard and having been quite keen in a fillies' Group 2 last time, the drop back to 7f could prove the key. Flash Fire is an obvious threat back in handicaps despite giving 4 lb to the field, while Rene Mathis was a good second to him in a C&D handicap last month and can give another good account.
Successful at 6f and 1m on good ground, but last win was over three years ago. Finished 13l behind Bluff when sixth of 11 on his latest outing at Jebel Ali over 1m 2f in December last year.
Successful at 6f and 1m on good ground, but last win was over three years ago. Finished 13l behind Bluff when sixth of 11 on his latest outing at Jebel Ali over 1m 2f in December last year.
Hors De Combat (second) got the better of SECRET BRIEF (fourth) last time out but the latter is likely to have needed the run far more and history has shown in the past that he usually improves plenty on his second outing. A mark of 102 could underestimate the 2016 Lincoln winner and it is interesting that William Buick chooses to ride him over stablemate Folkswood. Kyllachy Gala made a solid stable debut for Marco Botti at Lingfield a fortnight ago and the booking of Christophe Soumillon is noteworthy.
BEST OF TIMES was a listed winner in 2015 and consistently shaped well in handicaps in Britain last season. This 9f trip may prove ideal and he's feared having also been gelded since his last run. Secret Brief and Folkswood both ran well on their return and add to what is a very strong hand for Godolphin, while elsewhere Kyllachy Gala, Hors De Combat and Elleval are worth keeping an eye on.
