14:35 Meydan

Friday 24 February 2023

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

Defender 90 Handicap

Off time: 14:35 | Winning time: 1m 11.16s

Settings

(6)

Royal Commando¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: M Barzalona| T: S Ghadayer| D

11/4

13/2, good second of 9 in minor event at Jebel Ali (5f) 13 days ago. One to consider.

Form: 0936-62

(9)

Colour Up³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: P J Dobbs| T: D Watson| CD

5/2

C&D winner. Two wins from 4 runs last year. Latest win at Jebel Ali in December. 6/4, very good second of 5 in handicap at this C&D 35 days ago. Big shout.

Form: 0211-2

(5)

Prisoner's Dilemma^p⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: B M Coen| T: J Levins| D

40/1

Four wins from 11 runs last year. Latest win at the Curragh in August. 28/1, fourteenth of 16 in handicap at Meydan (6f, good) 7 days ago. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 314-000

(3)

Zawaaya²⁰¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Dane O'Neill| T: B Seemar| D

14/1

32/1, 9¼ lengths twelfth of 13 to Rose Premium in listed race at Deauville (6f, good). Off 6 months. First run for yard after leaving Francois Rohaut. Makes handicap debut with work to do.

Form: 102630-

(1)

Quintillus²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: R Mullen| T: B Seemar

40/1

Temperamental sort. Pulled up in handicap at this course (7f, 25/1) 28 days ago. Hard to warm to.

Form: 31/9P-0P

(7)

King Gold⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: A de Vries| T: N Caullery| D

3/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2022. Respectable third of 15 in handicap at this course (7f, 11/1) 7 days ago. One for the shortlist.

Form: 3349-33

(4)

Get Back Goldie^b²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: W Buick| T: D O'neill| CD

8/1

C&D winner. First run since leaving Leandro Mora when eleventh of 15 in handicap at Meydan (8f, good, 33/1) 21 days ago. Down in trip. Has good chance on pick of form.

Form: 9/1606-0

(2)

Vasari^t⁹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: A Fresu| T: M Al Mheiri| CD

7/1

15/2, career best when winning 8-runner handicap at this C&D when last seen. Off 91 days. Merits consideration despite taking a 5 lb rise.

Form: 8/20641-

(8)

Shamlaan^t³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: T P O'Shea| T: B Seemar

33/1

Five wins from 17 Flat runs. Tongue strap on for 1st time, first run since leaving Kevin Philippart De Foy when fifth of 8 in handicap (12/1) at Meydan (5f, good) 35 days ago. Can build on it now.

Form: 30368-5

Forecasts

Colour Up (5/2), Royal Commando (11/4), King Gold (3/1), Vasari (7/1), Get Back Goldie (8/1), Zawaaya (14/1), Shamlaan (33/1), Prisoner's Dilemma (40/1), Quintillus (40/1)

COLOUR UP couldn't complete his hat-trick but still posted a very good effort when runner-up over C&D last time and is taken to quickly resume winning ways. Vasari is feared most on the back of his C&D success, although in-form Royal Commando shouldn't be ruled out either.