16:35 Meydan

Saturday 1 March 2025

All13:3014:0514:5015:2516:0016:3517:1017:4518:20

Race 6 - Al Maktoum Classic Sponsored By Emirates Airline Stakes - Group 2 - Dirt

Off time: 16:37 | Winning time: 2m 3.76s

Settings

(7)

Artorius^t,b1³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: P Cosgrave| T: B Seemar| OR: 111

14/1

Useful horse. Good 3½ lengths fourth of 10 to King Gold in Firebreak Stakes at this course (1m, 18/1) 36 days ago. Up in trip.

Form: 31753-4

(3)

Crown Estate^p,t¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Bernardo Pinheiro| T: S Ghadayer| OR: 91| C

22/1

Course winner over 1m in January. 28/1, good 1¼ lengths fourth of 14 to Qareeb in Jebel Ali Mile 14 days ago. Up in trip.

Form: 104-154

(13)

Desert Wisdom^v⁷¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A Al Shemaili| OR: 105| C

33/1

Course winner. Twelve runs since last win in 2022. 12¼ lengths last of 6 to Meshtri in Al Maktoum Mile Stakes (14/1) at this course 71 days ago. Back up in trip.

Form: 4/45566-

(10)

Elyabri²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: D Tudhope| T: M Mheiri| CD

28/1

Two wins from 6 runs last year and improved again to win a 14-runner C&D handicap 22 days ago. Plenty to find on form now stepping up to Group level, though.

Form: 0261-31

(1)

First Constitution²²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-0| J: R Ffrench| T: O Aashour| OR: 107

100/1

Useful gelding. 25/1, 15¼ lengths tenth of 14 to Elyabri in C&D handicap C&D 22 days ago. First run for yard after leaving Julio Olascoaga. Very hard to make a case for.

Form: 3/086-50

(14)

Generous Tipper^b1³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: James Doyle| T: H Al Jehani| OR: 104

16/1

Useful colt. 16/1, first run since leaving Kenneth McPeek when creditable 9½ lengths sixth of 12 to Walk of Stars in Al Maktoum Challenge at this course (9.4f) 36 days ago.

Form: 13/711-6

(4)

Global Hit^h³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Kim Hye Sun| T: Bang Suk| D

66/1

66/1 and hooded for 1st time eyecover on for 1st time, 18 lengths eighth of 12 to Walk of Stars in Al Maktoum Challenge at this course (9.4f) 36 days ago. hard to fancy after that.

Form: 21311-8

(16)

Go Soldier Go^b²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Callum Shepherd| T: F Nass| OR: 100| CD

40/1

Course winner. Eleven runs since last win in 2023. Good 1½ lengths third of 14 to Elyabri in C&D handicap 22 days ago.

Form: 6233-53

(6)

Guns And Glory^t,b²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: R Mullen| T: B Seemar| OR: 100| C

16/1

6/4, career best when winning 10-runner conditions event at this course (11f) 29 days ago, pulling 10 lengths clear.

Form: 1863-41

(15)

Imperial Emperor^t³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: T P O'Shea| T: B Seemar| OR: 95| C

11/8

Smart gelding. Course winner. Two wins from 4 runs last year. 4/1, creditable 2¾ lengths second of 12 to Walk of Stars in Al Maktoum Challenge at this course (9.4f) 36 days ago. Not taken lightly.

Form: 5/3011-2

(9)

Kabirkhan³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: P J Dobbs| T: D Watson| OR: 115| CD

9/1

Smart performer who bagged the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge here in 2024 but well beaten in this year's renewal of that race 36 days ago. Needs to leave that well behind.

Form: 12/118-7

(2)

King Gold³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-0| J: W Buick| T: N Caullery| OR: 108| C

9/2

Smart horse. Won 10-runner Firebreak Stakes (28/1) at this course (1m) 36 days ago by short head from Laurel River. That race set up well for him but still enters calculations up in trip.

Form: 81960-1

(12)

Majestic Pride^t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: M Barzalona| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 106

10/1

Smart gelding. Creditable length third of 14 to Qareeb in Jebel Ali Mile 14 days ago, nearest finish. Up in trip. Respected.

Form: 3/04-723

(11)

Olzhakhan^v1⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: Connor Beasley| T: A Badwawi

66/1

8/1, last of 8 in handicap at this course (7f) on Meydan debut 43 days ago (only run for Doug Watson). Significantly up in trip. Can't make a case for.

Form: 112/11-8

(8)

Qareeb¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: S De Sousa| T: M Mheiri| OR: 103| C| D

17/2

Course winner. Didn't need to improve to win 14-runner Jebel Ali Mile 14 days ago by length from Sadaaty. Back up in trip.

Form: 2032-41

Non-Runners

(5)

Homo Deus³⁶

Weight: 9-0| Age: 7

T: L Botti J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Imperial Emperor (11/8), King Gold (9/2), Qareeb (17/2), Kabirkhan (9/1), Majestic Pride (10/1), Artorius (14/1), Guns And Glory (16/1), Generous Tipper (16/1), Crown Estate (22/1), Elyabri (28/1), Desert Wisdom (33/1), Go Soldier Go (40/1), Global Hit (66/1), Olzhakhan (66/1), First Constitution (100/1)

IMPERIAL EMPEROR has done really well since switched to the dirt here for new connections and is taken to go one better than in the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge over a slightly shorter trip in January. The Group 3 Firebreak was teed up nicely for King Gold last time but he's still feared most ahead of Majestic Pride, who was nearest at the finish in the Jebel Ali Mile last month and should prove suited by this longer trip.