1200m – Turf
Horse Racing
Season
Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint – Form Comments
| 1 | Baccarat | This veteran speedster got going just a little too late when a fast-finishing second in this last year. Has only raced four times since but was back in the winners’ enclosure over course and distance when outclassing four rivals in a handicap here last month. |
| 2 | D’bai | He looked sensational when lowering the track record in a 1400m turf handicap on his Meydan debut in January. However in a G2 last month he raced too keenly and didn’t have much kick left for the closing stages. Drops to 1200m for the first time in his 14-race career. |
| 3 | Dutch Masterpiece | Has run well in all his four Meydan starts this year, including winning a 1000m handicap in January when he was always prominent against the stands’ rail. Most recently he looked to fight hard when a close second in a 1200m handicap. |
| 4 | Ertijaal | This famous Meydan speedster gained his seventh track victory in a 1000m G2 here last month, and this time doesn’t have to contend with the talented rival who pushed him very hard that day. He’s also very effective over this 1200m and is likely to again try and use his amazing early speed to good effect. |
| 5 | High On Life | Subsequently disqualified after a banned substance was detected when he won a 1000m event on dirt at Jebel Ali in January. Back on turf he then won over this course and distance, fending off today’s rival Dutch Masterpiece in a handicap. This is harder. |
| 6 | Jungle Cat | Came with a smooth untroubled passage from the back to beat today’s rival Baccarat into second in this race last year. This tough and speedy six-year-old limbered up for this challenge by winning a 1400m G2 here last month and looks to belong firmly on the shortlist for this repeat attempt. |
| 7 | Out Do | Withdrawn |
| 8 | Shillong | All his 15 starts – including five wins – have come on a dirt surface. He has won two of his last three starts – over 1000m and 1200m – at Jebel Ali and clearly comes here in good form. However he’s likely to prove very vulnerable to some classy turf speedballs this time. |
| 9 | Sholaan | He’s won five races but his last victory came way back in 2014. His record suggests that he is better on dirt than turf and it would be a huge shock if he made an impact here. |
| 10 | Silver Line | Does not look to be one of the many stars Godolphin has unleashed at this Meydan Carnival. He can miss the break, and, though he’s made some late headway in two 1400m handicaps here recently, Gerald Mosse’s mount is likely to be outspeeded by higher rated opponents. |
| 11 | Sir Maximilian | A veteran sprinter who is based in the UK but has a huge amount of experience of the sprint tracks at Meydan. However his nine career wins have all come at 1000m and last month’s third to Baccarat over this distance when he made some late headway without ever looking like winning suggests his chance is weak. |
| 12 | Steady Pace | The winner of just one of his 21 starts on a turf surface though he did come close to another when only just failing to catch a front-runner after a slow start in a handicap over this course and distance in February. A troubled passage didn’t help when only seventh on his latest start. |
| 13 | The Grape Escape | His 13 starts and three wins have all come over further than this so there must be doubts whether he’s enough speed for this challenge. However he has taken well to Meydan and was a good second of 13 in a 1400m handicap last time. He likes to lead or race very handy. |
| 14 | Top Score | Has won over this distance early in his career but tends to race over further. He has run well in all three Meydan starts this year, especially last time when he got the better of 12 rivals in a 1400m handicap, having to come from way back and negotiate a tricky passage. |
| 15 | Roland Rocks | Made a good start to his Meydan career when a keeping-on second to a very smart rival over 1400m on dirt back in January. However he hasn’t progressed from that in two starts since – on turf and dirt – and is hard to fancy. A prominent racer. |
| 16 | Wasim | One of just two three-year-olds in this field but like quite a few of his rivals generally more used to competing over longer distances. However he’s got plenty of speed and currenly seems in good form, delivered with a strong challenge under today’s rider to win over 1400m here last month. |
| 17 | Portamento | A five-times winner in the UK and effective over this distance. However he has generally been well beaten at Meydan and – against some highly rated rivals – will surely not be fast enough for this. |
| Reserve | ||
| 18 | Yard Line | Since leaving the US, he’s been beaten in all 12 starts in the UAE. Plenty of today’s rivals have finished ahead of him in those races and surely he doesn’t have a serious chance here. |
Others
10/03/2018
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09/03/2018
