G1 – 2000m – Dirt
Horse Racing
Season
Al Maktoum Challenge R3 – Form Comments
| 1 | Furia Cruzada | Only beaten 2 ½ lengths in this race last year, though without ever really looking like winning. Back in Europe she then disappointed on turf but she’s run two decent races since returning to Meydan, only just failing to catch smart Promising Run in a G2 on turf last time. Place prospects but surprising if she won. |
| 2 | Thunder Snow | Super talented and versatile, amongst his achievements being two G1 wins on the grass in France as well as winning the UAE Derby on World Cup Night here last year. Most recently he survived a wide trip to run down some very talented rivals in a G2 over 1900m. He looks all set for a big show. |
| 3 | Second Summer | Well fancied to win this race last year but in the event he ran a shocker, though he did go on to gain a surprise victory in the G2 Godolphin Mile subsequently – swooping late. Has shown little flair in only start this season, but his trainer is a master on the dirt so he shouldn’t be completely ignored. |
| 4 | Montsarrat | Racing prominently he crushed his rivals in a dirt handicap over 2200m here in January though his profile is of a very inconsistent gelding who is difficult to predict from one race to the next. Most recently he was in the right mood again when scoring easily over 1950m at Jebel Ali. Expect him to go forward. |
| 5 | Capezzano | One of the candidates to lead, tactics that saw him land a 1600m dirt handicap here last month on his first start for his current stable. He’s got a decent enough gate but whether he can build on that big run in this stronger company remains to be seen. |
| 6 | North America | Had a terrific season here last year, improving rapidly with the trainer blaming his flop in the Godolphin Mile on the muddy conditions. This big strong horse was in front for most of the way in a G2 over 1900m last time but was gunned down by today’s rival Thunder Snow late on. He’s a player here. |
| 7 | Cosmo Charlie | His nine career runs and three wins have all come here at Meydan. He has generally competed over shorter distances than this but has won over 1900m here. He ran a decent second – though thrashed by the winner – in a 1600m G3 here last month. Jockey bookings suggests he is stable second string behind Second Summer. |
| 8 | Team Talk | A lightly-raced five-year-old who won two of his three starts in the UK in 2016. Made no impact – last of eight – on his Meydan debut in January but showed much more promise when fourth in a G3, last month especially good since he had a poor trip then. His pedigree suggests that the switch to the dirt surface may be useful. |
| 9 | Saltarin Dubai | A G1 winner in Argentina but it often takes time for South America horses to acclimatise to Meydan though the figures suggest that he is really coming into his own now. Kicked into an early lead he was really quite an impressive winner of a Listed handicap over this course and distance earlier this month. |
| 10 | Eragon | Unfancied for his Meydan debut – a G2 over 1900m here in February – and he was beaten 24 ½ lengths last of six by today’s rival Thunder Snow. Nor did he make any impact on the turf here earlier this month. No realistic chance. |
| 11 | Boynton | On his first start at Meydan, his first since being gelded and his first on an artificial surface he won a 1600m handicap on dirt here last month, managing to get to the lead early after a slow start. He never looked very happy there and held his head high but he’s got a great dirt pedigree and may well improve. |
| 12 | Special Fighter | Left many of the experts stunned when winning this race in 2016, exploiting slow fractions from the front. However his second in this race last year – when unable to lead – proved that to be no fluke. He should be sharper for his return to Meydan action here last month. |
Others
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