G1 – 1200m – Dirt
1 | Al Tariq | Struggled to win when French-trained but has now won his last two starts beating better fancied rivals each time, latterly here in a G3. Missed a target on Super Saturday to keep him fresh for this. |
2 | Canvassed | Has found his metier as a dirt sprinter at Meydan. Good Effort appeared to have stolen a G3 from the front here this month, but Canvassed’s powerful stretch charge grabbed the prize late on. |
3 | Copano Kicking | Japanese-trained with a consistently good record in dirt sprints and proving that he could operate overseas when responding to William Buick’s demands to grab a valuable prize in Riyadh. |
4 | Good Effort | Enterprisingly ridden by Dettori he was kicked clear only to tire late and get caught by the stretch pace of Canvassed in a G3 here this month. He will probably try to boss from the front again. |
5 | Important Mission | Very effective on this 1200m Meydan dirt track, and front-running tactics almost landed him a G3 victory in February. Had to use a lot of energy too soon from a wide gate here last time, fading. |
6 | Jalen Journey | A consistent and tough but lightly raced dirt sprinter in the US, winning his last two starts. Though they were only at claiming level, he ran a close third in a G1 back in 2019. |
7 | Justin | This hasn’t proved to be the best race for Japanese raiders in the past but this horse does have some smart 1200m dirt form back home, including a G3 win on his penultimate start – in December. |
8 | Matera Sky | This Japanese horse finished fifth in this in 2018 and second when not very fancied in 2019. His close second – after leading – in a hot event at Riyadh – shows he is still a potent force. |
9 | Premier Star | Won four of his seven dirt starts in the US and made a positive start in Dubai when quite a close fourth in a G3 here this month. May well have finished closer as he was found to be mildly lame. |
10 | Red Le Zele | His profile suggests a tough and consistent horse though he now needs to prove himself outside Japan. Fourth in a 1600m G1 last time was another sound effort and he’s also effective at 1200m. |
11 | Switzerland | The opposite of consistent but this big horse can deliver some surprises as he did when winning a G3 here in January. Ran a respectable fourth at Riyadh last time but this looks challenging. |
12 | Wildman Jack | Put some disappointing turf performances behind him when surging clear of rivals in a G3 on the dirt at Santa Anita in January. US speedsters have a good recent record in the Golden Shaheen. |
13 | Yaupon | Very smart in the US, four straight wins including at G3 and G2 level over this trip, bashing his rivals from the front. Last seen when favourite for a 2020 Keeneland G1, suffering a dismal trip. |
14 | Zenden | Occasional poor performances but plenty of good ones also, latterly when this US-trained horse bravely held on to a Listed race prize over this distance at Tampa Bay in February. |