Horse Racing
Season
95-105 Handicap – Form Comments
1600m – Turf
| 1 | Symbolization | The big horse’s career highlight came with a win off top weight in a strong handicap over Newmarket’s straight 1600m last May. He ran pretty well on this month’s Meydan debut considering he met some interference. Improvement expected. |
| 2 | Forjatt | A terrific performer considering his advanced age, and, in December, he came through smoothly to beat a big field in a prestigious event over this distance at Abu Dhabi. His UAE wins have come there or at Jebel Ali but he has run well at Meydan in the past. |
| 3 | Hors De Combat | Has experienced a long losing run in the UK, though with plenty of placed efforts. However he did win over this course and distance about a year ago, coming with a strong charge. Hasn’t yet hit top gear at this Meydan meeting. |
| 4 | Jaaref | Not especially consistent but a late challenge did see him beating a big field over this distance at Abu Dhabi last November. However he’ll need to do a lot better than he did in a handicap over this course and distance last month. |
| 5 | Kronprinz | In and out of the lead when landing a G3 prize over 1700m at Germany’s Krefeld racecourse last April. Has run respectably in two of his three Meydan starts this year but a win would come as a surprise. |
| 6 | Aurum | Looks the second string of the Charlie Appleby-trained trio in this event. However he is lightly raced and showed promise on all three starts in the UK last summer, sticking to 1400m each time. Appeared well fancied on his Meydan debut in January but disappointed. Surely better than that. |
| 7 | Above N Beyond | Front-running tactics saw him beat eight rivals in a handicap over this distance at Haydock back in 2016. Has failed to win since moving to the UAE but he was unlucky two starts back and ran a very solid second of 16 here last month. |
| 8 | Dark Red | Doesn’t win too often but can deliver a powerful finish when things go his way. However his handicap mark does not appear especially lenient and he’d need to improve a bit on his two Meydan efforts this year. Jockey Ben Curtis partners him for the first time. |
| 9 | Eshtiraak | A smart performer at around this trip in Australia. Has run to a similarly good level in both Meydan starts this year, beaten 3.5L and 3L though never looking like winning either of those handicaps. A little improvement could see him involved. |
| 10 | Major Partnership | Three times a winner from five starts in the UK and he was fancied to make a winning Meydan debut in a 1200m handicap in January, but was slowly away and then outspeeded. Up to this distance last time but couldn’t find a finishing kick. |
| 11 | Cliffs Of Capri | Twice a winner of 1400m handicaps at Ascot last year. Seems to have adapted well to Meydan, not beaten far on either of his starts. Over 1400m last time his finish came too late on this speed favouring track so this 1600m may be more suitable. |
| 12 | Freescape | A big strong gelding, but yet to win on grass and has previously given the impression that he is more of a sprinter than a 1600m horse. However with blinkers added (on again here) he was a strong-finishing third over 1400m here this month. |
| 13 | Bedouin’s Story | Although disappointing on occasions he was still three times a winner in the UK last season. He has been slow from the gates on both his recent Meydan starts but has finished well each time. A quirky type but with plenty of talent. |
| 14 | Completion | Generally consistent in the UK last season for another trainer, and effective over this trip and further. First Meydan venture and reasonably handicapped but jockey bookings would suggest he is not the stables’ number one hope. |
| 15 | Mutawathea | His four wins have all come on an all-weather surface and his 0-19 figures on turf don’t give much optimism for today. Not disgraced in a handicap over this distance here in January but others are surely preferred. |
| 16 | Rocket Power | Has done most of his racing, and winning, on all-weather surfaces. However he did show his versatility by landing a 1400m turf handicap here in January. This looks a tougher assignment but a prominent display would be no big surprise. |
Others
20/02/2019
20/02/2019
20/02/2019
20/02/2019
20/02/2019
20/02/2019
