16:20 Meydan

Friday 21 January 2022

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

Al Fahidi Fort Presented By Mina By Azizi Group 2 Stakes - Turf

Off time: 16:21 | Winning time: 1m 22.02s

(13)

Ajwad²⁸⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 9-0| J: Bernardo Pinheiro| T: R Bouresly| OR: 96| C| D

100/1

Useful horse. 25/1, respectable fifth of 16 in conditions event here when last seen out 9 months ago. Course winner but he faces an uphill task in this company.

Form: 00/0585-

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(3)

Alkaamel¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Dane O'Neill| T: M Al Mheiri| OR: 101| CD

40/1

Useful gelding. 22/1, career best when winning 12-runner handicap over C&D 14 days ago. This demands plenty more, however.

Form: 62249-1

(8)

Could Be King¹⁰⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: P Cosgrave| T: N Petersen| OR: 104| D

40/1

Smart gelding who comes here on the back of career-best win in conditions event at Ovrevoll (5.8f). Respected.

Form: 251221-

(9)

Garrulous⁹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: R Woodworth| T: M F De Kock| OR: 103

80/1

Useful gelding. Hooded when below-form eighth of 14 in conditions event at Deauville (6.5f) on his final run for Francis-Henri Graffard. Has plenty on his plate here.

Form: 2112/78-

(12)

La Barrosa¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: James Doyle| T: C Appleby| OR: 108| D

5/1

Smart gelding. Off 7 months and gelded before good third of 14 in 1m conditions event here 14 days ago. Still low mileage, and well worth considering.

Form: 15/260-3

(5)

Land Of Legends³⁰⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: L Dettori| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 111| CD

9/2

Smart gelding. 40/1, respectable fifth of 12 to Lord North in Dubai Turf here 10 months ago. Won this contest 12 months after an absence, so he merits serious consideration.

Form: 220/155-

(10)

Manjeer^t⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Eddy Hardouin| T: C Fey| OR: 98| D

40/1

Useful gelding who wasn't disgraced when fifth in listed race at Deauville (7.4f) 41 days ago. Can give another good account.

Form: 383555-

(4)

Naval Crown¹⁹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 111| C| D

4/6

Smart colt who was fourth in 2000 Guineas at Newmarket last term. Course winner too so he's a player on his return with few miles still on the clock.

Form: 312428-

(14)

Sanary^t1¹³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Per-Anders Graberg| T: N Lensvik| OR: 104| D

66/1

Useful horse. Scored at Klampenborg last July and good second in 7f handicap there last time. Has plenty to find on form here, however.

Form: 131142-

(11)

Spirit Of Light^t1³³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: T P O'Shea| T: E Charpy| OR: 101| CD

33/1

Useful gelding. Respectable third of 10 in conditions event at Abu Dhabi (7f) 33 days ago. C&D winner is no forlorn hope.

Form: 056123-

(2)

Storm Damage¹⁶⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: H Crouch| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 108| D

13/2

Made it 3-4 in 1m handicap at Newmarket when last seen out in August. Enters calculations with further progress on the cards after his break.

Form: 1911-

(1)

Story Of Light³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: M Barzalona| T: Ahmad Bin Harmash| OR: 103

50/1

Smart gelding. Below form third in 7f conditions event at Meydan 36 days ago. Others are more persuasive.

Form: 43/5323-

(6)

Ventura Rebel^v¹⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: R Dawson| T: Ahmad Bin Harmash| OR: 105

66/1

Gelded and off track since last of 7 in Phoenix Sprint Stakes at the Curragh (6f) in August on his final run for Richard Fahey. Needs to hit the ground running for his new yard.

Form: 61/5807-

(7)

Zainhom^v¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-0| J: A Fresu| T: M Al Mheiri| OR: 104| CD

40/1

C&D winner but he arrives below par, only eighth in 1m conditions event here 14 days ago. More is needed.

Form: 60677-8

Forecasts

Naval Crown (4/6), Land Of Legends (9/2), La Barrosa (5/1), Storm Damage (13/2), Spirit Of Light (33/1), Zainhom (40/1), Manjeer (40/1), Could Be King (40/1), Alkaamel (40/1), Story Of Light (50/1), Sanary (66/1), Ventura Rebel (66/1), Garrulous (80/1), Ajwad (100/1)

Charlie Appleby has a great record in this Group 2 contest and he holds a strong hand again with his 2000 Guineas fourth NAVAL CROWN taken to return in style after a break. Stablemate La Barrosa is firmly in the picture too after an encouraging return here, with last year's winner Land of Legends and the lightly-raced Storm Damage also in the mix in a competitive event.