G3 – 1200m – Dirt
Horse Racing
Season
Mahab Al Shimaal – Form Comments
| 1 | Lansky | Has run to a similar level in three 1400m turf handicaps at Meydan this year. Latterly sitting in midfield but not having enough of a finishing kick. Is a past all-weather winner – at Kempton – so switch to dirt may help but a win would be a big surprise. |
| 2 | Switzerland | Boasts two 1200m G3 wins on dirt in the USA and his second of ten in a handicap here last time suggests another triumph could be close. Lavaspin who beat him there had a more favourable gate that day but Switzerland is better drawn this time plus has a big pull at the weights. Chance. |
| 3 | Comicas | Fourth in this in 2017 and started favourite for it last year but ran a dismal race, reportedly having bled. He came into that off the back of two good Meydan 2018 runs – including a G3 win – but this time arrives after a break since November. Stable having a brilliant season. |
| 4 | Lavaspin | Has been in sparkling form and has won his last three starts – all handicaps over this course and distance. Last time he blasted fast from his low gate and was always holding today’s rival Switzerland. That rival is better gated and much better off at the weights this time, however. |
| 5 | Nine Below Zero | Quite a smart sprint handicapper in the UK on a fast turf surface, proving he could handle Meydan’s dirt with a handicap win over this distance in January. He has also run pretty well in three starts since but now in Group company some more will be needed. |
| 6 | Thammin | Better on the all-weather than turf in the UK and has adapted well to UAE conditions, running a solid third on the grass at Meydan first and then when storming clear of six rivals over 1000m on the Jebel Ali dirt surface. Tends to come from off the speed. |
| 7 | My Catch | Has sometimes shown astounding speed here including when winning a G3 last year though his next outing was a poor show when last in this race. Nothing special from this year’s efforts and he’s unlikely to be able to dominate from the gate here, required tactics. |
| 8 | Drafted | Has continued to improve since moving to the UAE and posted another career best on his latest start when coming smoothly from off the pace and fending off smart Argentinian import and today’s rival Tato Key. Not all closers handle the Meydan dirt kickback but he certainly does. |
| 9 | I Kirk | Has won eight dirt sprint races in Sweden but as the form there is not highly valued he didn’t appear well fancied for his Meydan debut in January. Soon in front and setting impressive fractions, he burnt off some smart rivals. More competition for the lead and a wide gate here, but he’s still interesting. |
| 10 | Tato Key | Won 12 of his 14 Argentinian starts including wide margin victories in some of their top dirt sprints. Any issue about the value of that form was forgotten when he nearly won a G3 on his Meydan debut, just beaten by today’s rival Drafted who was race-fit. A great start at Meydan. |
Others
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