This will be the 2nd card of the season at Meydan and whilst it is very early to be drawing any firm conclusions from the form book, one point that was clear on opening night was the need for early speed. The winners on that card were ranked 3rd, 1st, 1st, 6th, 2nd and 3rd for the time taken to reach 30 mph from the start and like many dirt tracks, the early speed is crucial. Taking that approach, I have highlighted a few horses on Friday’s card who have fitness on their side and ought to be suited by the current track conditions.
Friday’s evening card at Meydan includes a pair of maiden races for the 2-year-olds. We have very little form to go on and these races are really just there to be watched at this stage of the season, but both Undefeated (R2) and Golden Redemption (R7) did catch the eye in their recent trials.
The first horse to catch my eye amongst the entries was Meshtri in the Dubai Creek Mile (R5). I highlighted him a couple of weeks ago on opening night and whilst he ran a respectable race to finish 4th. He was perhaps in need of that outing and the fact that he is turned out again quickly suggests that Michael Costa wants to press ahead with his well-handicapped 4-year-old. He broke well a fortnight ago but had to be rousted to try and keep his early position and whilst opening furlongs of 13.51 and 10.85s are perfectly respectable, in a race run at a fierce early gallop it wasn’t enough to keep him in contention. However, I was taken by the way that he saw out his race, coming home in 12.43 and 12.64s for the closing furlongs and his run-out speed of 33.87 mph was significantly quicker than the winner and ranked 2nd in the field. He showed that he still retains his ability despite the time that he has missed, with his top speed of 42.21 mph ranking him 3rd in the field. He should improve with the benefit of that recent run and his earlier maiden form with Nevershow Weakness still leaves him looking well treated on a mark of 91, yet his connections have taken the decision to pitch him into Listed company here.
Race 4 is a conditions race for the 3-year-olds and perhaps the most interesting runner in the field is Gabooll. He was a winner here on opening night when he landed a maiden by just under 5-lengths under Ben Coen. I was particularly taken by his early speed as he broke in 13.70, 10.53 and 11.13s for the opening stretch. The TPD Post Race Pace Chart clocks him at 43.26 mph for that stretch and his early speed was the key to what turned out to be a relatively easy success. Perhaps most significantly, despite this early speed, he was still able to run the fastest final furlong in the field in 12.38s, much quicker than his nearest rival Alsayel in 12.81s, as well as an impressive run-out speed of 35.23 mph, also the best in the field. There is surely more to come from this long striding Grey.
Race 6 is the Thunder Snow Handicap over the extended 9-furlongs. Lions Mane and Lahresh are very closely matched after they finished 1,2 in a handicap here a fortnight ago, but both have a deeper race to deal with this time around and I am keen to take them on, with Shamikh looking the most likely winner from the data. He finished 3rd behind Imperial Emperor over the mile last time, running on nicely in closing sectionals of 12.26 and 12.53s, the fastest final 400m
in the field. His top speed of 41.70 mph wasn’t enough to keep him in contention in a fiercely run race and that figure, coupled with the 7.0s that it took him to reach 30 mph would suggest that this step up in trip is more likely to suit. His closing sectionals and a run-out speed of 34.02 mph, easily the best in the race, suggest that he is capable of improving and the fact that he has form at Jebel Ali, where the stiff finish requires plenty of stamina, would all lead me to the conclusion that he will finish strongly once again.