1400m – Dirt
Horse Racing
Season
90-105 Handicap – Form Comments
| 1 | Gold Town | Top weight in this handicap but he deserves it and it was only about a year ago that he thrashed his rivals in a G3 over 1600m here. However he hasn’t been firing as well in his two starts this year. Likely to try and get a forward early position despite gate eight. |
| 2 | African Ride | Three times a winner on an artificial surface but hasn’t made a huge impact in two Meydan starts on the dirt here this year, and, though he ran third of 14 last time, he was beaten 17 lengths by the winner. Really needs to prove his suitability for this track. |
| 3 | Honorable Treasure | Decent though not top class in the USA where he has won at this distance on a dirt surface at Saratoga. Came close to winning on his Meydan debut over an inadequate 1200m but failed to cause his rivals any problems over 1600m here last time. |
| 4 | Nine Below Zero | Moving up to this distance for the first time in his career but his dam did win over it. On his Meydan debut – and first start for this stable – he came from off the speed to win over 1200m and was also finishing well when third here a week ago. |
| 5 | Aqabah | Having won on his two-year-old debut he then competed in some top company, running some good races without winning. He was then absent for 484 days before showing little on his Meydan debut last month. Now switches to dirt, with his pedigree giving hope it may help. |
| 6 | Rodaini | Quite busy in the UAE in recent months including when nailing today’s rival Bochart close home in a non-Carnival handicap over this course and distance in December. Looked a possible winner over 1400m on turf at Abu Dhabi last time, fading at the end. |
| 7 | Thegreatcollection | Has been competing over further than this but his last win actually came over this course and distance, in 2017. Although he had no chance with the runaway winner, he finished ahead of 12 rivals – including a better fancied stablemate – over 1600m – here last month. |
| 8 | Bochart | Showing consistently good form earlier in the Meydan meeting including when defying a big weight to lead most of the way and draw clear near the finish over this distance in January. Excuses for a poor show last time when stumbling at the start. |
| 9 | Good Effort | An easy winner over Newbury’s straight 1400m last August. Quite well beaten on both his ventures at Meydan this year and he now switches to the dirt surface, though no massively positive views from his pedigree that it will help. |
| 10 | Trickbag | Unfancied on either Meydan start this year, trying both dirt and turf. He has never looked remotely threatening on either occasion and it would come as a huge shock if he managed to win this. |
| 11 | Almanaara | Looks very good on his day, and surely has chances here if in the same mood as when winning a 1200m handicap here last March, leading early and demolishing his rivals. Seemed to be finding his mojo again last time and no worries with this longer trip. |
| 12 | Moqarrab | Lightly-raced and has twice gained easy wins in minor events over this distance at Wolverhampton. Having his first start outside the UK. |
Others
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