18:10 Meydan

Friday 24 January 2025

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:3518:10

Race 9 - Al Khail Trophy Presented By Longines - Group 3 - Turf

Off time: 18:10 | Winning time: 2m 58.91s

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(7)

Onesmoothoperator²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Ben Robinson| T: B Ellison| OR: 105

18/1

Developed into a smart handicapper last year, resuming winning ways at Geelong in October. 13/2, fifth of 6 in handicap at Wolverhampton (12.2f) 29 days ago, plugging on. Return to 1¾m in his favour now but others appeal more for win purposes.

Form: 174105-

(3)

Prydwen²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Callum Shepherd| T: G Scott| OR: 111| D

11/1

Smart gelding. Ten wins from 31 Flat runs. Four wins from 8 runs last year. Latest win at Dortmund in September. 8¾ lengths sixth of 8 to Epic Poet in minor event at this C&D (good, 5/1) 21 days ago. Feasible to think he'll be sharper here given that was his first start for 4 months.

Form: 19811-6

(5)

Epic Poet²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 100| CD

5/1

Five wins from 17 Flat runs. Didn't need to be at best when winning 8-runner minor event at this C&D (good, 11/2) 21 days ago, by neck from King of Conquest, always holding on. Record stands at 2-3 at this trip and he should be thereabouts again.

Form: 25414-1

(6)

Flying Honours^h³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: M Barzalona| T: C Appleby| OR: 104

11/1

4/1 and hooded for 1st time, posted easily his best effort since his juvenile days when 3¼ lengths fourth of 11 to Keffaaf in handicap at this course (12f, good) 35 days ago, unable to sustain effort. Task is to build on that now his stamina is tested further.

Form: 310/784-

(4)

Goya Senora³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 9-5| J: C Demuro| T: Y Barberot| OR: 111| D

25/1

Latest win at Deauville in July. Good second of 11 in minor event back at that venue (12.4f) 36 days ago. Effective at this longer trip and he's no forlorn hope.

Form: 551262-

(2)

Homo Deus^t1⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Connor Beasley| T: L Botti| D

33/1

7-y-o gelding who completed 4-timer in listed company at Saint-Cloud (14.9f) in April. Bit below form 2½ lengths fourth of 8 to Sirjan in listed race at Toulouse (11.9f, soft, 34/10) 61 days ago. First run for yard after leaving P. & F. Monfort.

Form: 111354-

(1)

Keffaaf²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: J McDonald| T: M Costa| OR: 86| C

11/4

Course winner. 11/2, creditable neck third of 8 to Epic Poet in minor event at this C&D (good) 21 days ago, headway over 1f out and staying on. Still unexposed at this sort of trip and a repeat gives him claims of being in the mix once more.

Form: 12331-3

(10)

King Of Conquest^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 112

9/4

Smart gelding. Seven wins from 20 Flat runs. 13/8, back on track following 5 months off when neck second of 8 to Epic Poet in minor event at this C&D (good) 21 days ago. Expected to be in the thick of things again.

Form: 52117-2

(8)

Caius Chorister⁹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: James Doyle| T: D Menuisier| OR: 109| D

11/2

Smart mare. Good 5 lengths fourth of 9 to Kyprios in Long Distance Cup at Ascot (15.6f, soft, 66/1), never nearer. Off 97 days. Merits consideration.

Form: 264204-

Non-Runners

(9)

Trafalgar Square¹¹¹

Weight: 9-0| Age: 4

T: B Seemar J: T P O'Shea

Forecasts

King Of Conquest (9/4), Keffaaf (11/4), Trafalgar Square (7/2), Epic Poet (5/1), Caius Chorister (11/2), Prydwen (11/1), Flying Honours (11/1), Onesmoothoperator (18/1), Goya Senora (25/1), Homo Deus (33/1)

KING OF CONQUEST put a lesser effort behind him after 5 months off when going down narrowly to re-opposing Epic Poet over C&D 3 weeks ago, and he could be up to reversing those placings on these revised terms. Epic Poet's record at this sort of trip now stands at 2 wins from 3 starts and he, along with Caius Chorister, can provide chief resistance. Trafalgar Square is another worth a second look.