16:20 Meydan

Friday 11 February 2022

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

Curlin Stakes Presented By Race Of Ambition Listed Stakes (Dirt)

Off time: 16:22 | Winning time: 2m 8.12s

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(6)

Dubai Icon^v²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: L Dettori| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 99| CD

10/3

Smart gelding. 22/1, career best when winning 16-runner minor event at this C&D 21 days ago, keeping on well. Dangerous if he gets loose on the front end.

Form: 6/6272-1

(7)

Salute The Soldier²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: A de Vries| T: F Nass| OR: 115| CD

15/8

Very smart gelding. C&D winner. 13/2, probably needed the run in Maktoum Challenge Round 1 at this course (8f) 28 days ago. Should be spot on now, and he's a bit better than this level.

Form: 4/3115-5

(10)

Rebel's Romance²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 106| CD

3/1

Smart gelding. Two wins from 3 runs last year, including UAE Derby over C&D. Below form 24¾ lengths eighth of 16 to Dubai Icon in minor event on return, but still very much one to keep in mind.

Form: 11/141-8

(8)

Roman Rosso^t⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-3| J: R Mullen| T: B Seemar| OR: 108| D

18/1

Smart gelding. Well-beaten ninth of 12 to Hot Rod Charlie in Maktoum Challenge Round 2 at this course (9.4f, 40/1) 7 days ago. Likely to come on for that, and has the ability to compete in this grade.

Form: 45/439-9

(11)

Erzindjan^v¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: R Dawson| T: A Bin Harmash| OR: 106

33/1

Smart gelding. Visored for 1st time, creditable length third of 14 to Star Safari in listed race (40/1) at Meydan (9.9f, good) 14 days ago. Something to find on AW debut.

Form: 3470-73

(1)

Naamoos⁸⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Saffie Osborne| T: F Nass| OR: 104

20/1

Useful gelding. Visored for 1st time, first run since leaving Mark Johnston when 27 lengths twelfth of 13 to Lord Glitters in Bahrain International Trophy at Sakhir (9.9f, good) 84 days ago.

Form: 118580-

(2)

Big Team^v1²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: P Cosgrave| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 94

10/1

Useful gelding. Latest win at Wolverhampton in September. 8/1, below form 17½ lengths third of 16 to Dubai Icon in minor event at this C&D 21 days ago. Others are more persuasive.

Form: 6010-23

(9)

Syrtis¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: A Fresu| T: A Al Shemaili| OR: 97

66/1

Useful gelding. Eighth of 11 in minor event (66/1) at this course (7f) 14 days ago. Significantly up in trip. Others make more appeal.

Form: 2/602-08

(5)

Appreciated^v1⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: Fernando Jara| T: D O'Neill| OR: 104

20/1

Useful gelding. Latest win at Santa Anita in October. Creditable third of 7 in claimer at Santa Anita (9f, good, 45/10) 46 days ago. Not completely discounted.

Form: 211283-

(12)

Book Review^p¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: M Barzalona| T: S Ghadayer| OR: 85| C

16/1

Fairly useful gelding. 11/2, career best when winning 12-runner handicap at this course (9.4f) 19 days ago. Will find this much tougher up in grade.

Form: 12178-1

(4)

Court Poet^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: S Al Balushi| T: A Bin Harmash| OR: 102

50/1

50/1, well-beaten ninth of 16 to Dubai Icon in minor event at this C&D 21 days ago. Firmly up against it.

Form: 60P/09-9

(13)

Sanad Libya^b³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: T P O'Shea| T: B Seemar| OR: 88| CD

22/1

Useful horse. 12/1, won 16-runner handicap at this course (10.9f) 35 days ago. Needs to find more now up in class.

Form: 60345-1

(3)

Ugurtay⁶⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: G Kocakaya| T: E Diblen| D

50/1

Fairly useful colt. Four wins from 8 runs last year. Latest win at Ankara in September. 17/10, creditable ½-length second of 9 to Regardless in Gr 3 at Adana (9.4f) 69 days ago. Difficult ask.

Form: 111972-

Forecasts

Salute The Soldier (15/8), Rebel's Romance (3/1), Dubai Icon (10/3), Big Team (10/1), Book Review (16/1), Roman Rosso (18/1), Appreciated (20/1), Naamoos (20/1), Sanad Libya (22/1), Erzindjan (33/1), Ugurtay (50/1), Court Poet (50/1), Syrtis (66/1)

Given that SALUTE THE SOLDIER landed a Group 1 over C&D 11 months ago, he's worth a chance to strip fitter for last month's reappearance and get back to winning ways. Last year's UAE Derby winner Rebel's Romance also returned with a lesser effort, but he's far from one to be writing off, while Dubai Icon can't be dismissed on the back of his recent C&D success.