Listed – 1900m – Dirt
Horse Racing
Season
Al Bastakiya – Form Comments
| 1 | Tone Broke | Has some quite impressive winning form on dirt over 1600m in the USA last year, coming from off the pace. However he could never get seriously competitive in a conditions’ event over this distance on his Meydan debut in January, beaten 21L sixth of 14. |
| 2 | Shanty Star | Has been busy, racing five times at Meydan since December. By far his best effort came last time when he was running fast late on, only beaten 1L in fourth in a Listed event on turf over 1600m last month. Had been soundly beaten over this trip on dirt in January. |
| 3 | Divine Image | A runaway winner on her sole UK start and has also left a good impression on both Meydan starts. Especially last time and over this distance when this long-striding filly gradually accelerated from midfield to grab that G3 prize late on. Probably not a straightforward ride but very talented. |
| 4 | The Song Of John | Won a dirt maiden over 1000m on his debut at a minor US track last June, always prominent. Not disgraced when 5L sixth of 12 in much stronger company in a 1200m at G3 level at Churchill Downs later that month. Not seen since and now trained locally. |
| 5 | Moshaher | Jockey Pat Dobbs opted to ride him instead of several stable companions in a 1600m maiden on his debut back in January. A correct choice as this colt thrashed his nine rivals. Fancied to build on that in a G3 in February but for whatever reason he disappointed – never able to challenge. |
| 6 | Al Hayette | Twice came from well off the speed to mow down her rivals in dirt races over 1600m and 1400m last December and in January. Most recently she appeared to last this distance when galloping on into fifth in a G3, though 6L behind today’s rival Divine Image. |
| 7 | Fintas | Progressive as he moved up in distance in the UK, latterly winning over 1600m on the all-weather at Chelmsford, doing well then as he had raced too freely and was also hampered. However he didn’t show a huge amount on his Meydan debut in a 1600m G3 last month. |
| 8 | Superior | Sitting handy and travelling easily, he led 300m to win a 1600m Meydan dirt maiden on his debut here last November. He reappeared 77 days later in the trial for this race again travelling nicely but this time fading late. Some questions then about his stamina for this trip. |
| 9 | Al Shamkhah | Closed late to beat nine rivals on her debut in a 1400m maiden here last November. However she has since been fairly well beaten and never looked like winning when moving up to this trip for a G3 last time, 7.75L behind today’s rival Divine Image. |
| 10 | Grecko | Must be pretty talented, having been unbeaten in two starts in Argentina including winning a G1. He made his Meydan debut under a big weight in the trial for this event in January. He never looked like winning but ran a fair fourth of 14 and improvement expected. Frankie Dettori takes over in the saddle. |
| 11 | Red Cactus | Has winning form in the calmer waters of Sweden last year. Well behind on his Meydan debut in January but he did finish nicely into third – albeit as the gallop was slowing down – in a 1600m G3 here last month. Some pedigree doubts for this rise in distance. |
| 12 | Manguzi | Nothing special in the UK, but much more competitive in the UAE, winning two of his three starts. Latterly he was able to grab an early lead in the trial for this race in January, just holding today’s rival Estihdaaf with the rest well behind. Has a trickier gate if he is again to go forward early. |
| 13 | Estihdaaf | Promising in the UK and also at Meydan, closing fast on today’s rival Manguzi in the trial for this in January, not helped by a slow start from a good gate. Slowly away again in a G3 over 1600m last month but he quickly made up the ground and ran out a stylish winner. Looks a live player here. |
| 14 | Tabarak | Showed a little bit of promise on his first Meydan start and built on that when winning a 1400m dirt maiden here in February, soon leading from a favourably low gate and not having much difficulty holding off the challengers in quite an impressive time. This wide gate does not look helpful. |
Others
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08/03/2019
