14:10 Meydan

Saturday 26 March 2022

All11:4512:2012:5513:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:30

UAE Derby Sponsored By Mubadala (Group 2) (Dirt)

Off time: 14:12 | Winning time: 1m 59.76s

(13)

Irwin¹³³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: F Goncalves| T: Antonio Cintra| OR: 116

20/1

Career best when winning 7-runner Group 1 at Palermo (12.5f, 22/10) by 9 lengths from Storefront back in November. First run for yard after leaving Javier Fren. Has a tricky draw to contend with but prolific in South America so not taken lightly.

Form: 121121-

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(15)

Kiefer^t²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: H Lazo| T: R Colombo| OR: 103

50/1

Three wins from 3 runs in Argentina last year. Creditable 8¼ lengths sixth of 14 to Pinehurst in Saudi Derby (16/1) at King Abdulaziz (8f) 4 weeks ago. More needed here.

Form: 111-326

(2)

Quality Boone^t²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: V Leal| T: Antonio Cintra| OR: 102| CD

18/1

Two wins from 3 runs last year. Career best when winning 12-runner listed race at this C&D (8/1) 3 weeks ago by 1¼ lengths from Withering, helped by being held up in strongly-run race.

Form: 611-231

(4)

Azure Coast^b⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: A Fresu| T: P Vashchenko| OR: 106| C

11/2

Completed the hat-trick after 8 weeks off when winning 13-runner UAE 2000 Guineas at this course (8f) 43 days ago by 2 lengths from Kiefer, suited by strong pace to lead late on. May not find circumstances so favourable here.

Form: 11-1

(5)

Bendoog²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: T P O'Shea| T: B Seemar| OR: 99| C

18/1

Course winner in January. 2/1, shaped better than the bare result for the second time in succession when 1¼ lengths third of 12 to Quality Boone in listed race at this C&D 21 days ago, faring best of those ridden prominently.

Form: 143

(7)

Combustion³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: W Buick| T: K Ito| OR: 108

4/1

Two wins from 4 runs last year. Career best when winning 14-runner listed race at Tokyo (8f) 34 days ago by neck from Geraldo Barows. Enters calculations on his first start on these shores.

Form: 1122-1

(10)

Crown Pride³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: D Lane| T: Koichi Shintani| OR: 105| D

11/1

Two wins from 2 runs last year. Latest at Hanshin in November. 3½ lengths sixth of 14 to Combustion in listed race at Tokyo (8f) 34 days ago. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 11-6

(12)

Get Back Goldie^t1,v²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Irad Ortiz Jr| T: Doug O'Neill| OR: 98| C

80/1

Course winner. Respectable 5½ lengths sixth of 12 to Quality Boone in listed race (9/1) at this C&D 3 weeks ago. Tongue tied added to the usual visor but easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 4919-16

(9)

Gilded Age^b⁴⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Luis Saez| T: William Mott| OR: 103| D

20/1

Winner at Churchill Downs in November. Ran up to best when 4½ lengths third of 11 to Early Voting in Grade 3 Withers Stakes (68/10) at Aqueduct (9f) 49 days ago. Not without each-way hope.

Form: 6851-3

(3)

Island Falcon^p1²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: P Cosgrave| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 103| D

40/1

One win from 2 runs last year. Latest win here in January. 16/1, never near enough to challenge when 11¼ lengths eighth of 14 to Pinehurst in Saudi Derby at King Abdulaziz (8f) 4 weeks ago. Cheekpieces on but probably best to look elsewhere.

Form: 31-18

(6)

Pinehurst^b1,t1²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: F Prat| T: Bob Baffert| OR: 112

10/3

Put experience to good use sporting a first-time tongue tie when winning 14-runner Saudi Derby at King Abdulaziz (8f, 7/4) 4 weeks ago by ½ length from the reopposing Sekifu. Every chance he can find the necessary improvement to feature on his first start on these shores.

Form: 115-21

(1)

Reiwa Homare¹⁵³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: C P Lemaire| T: D Takayanagi| OR: 105

12/1

One win from 3 runs last year. Head second of 15 to Sekifu in minor event at Hanshin (7f). Off 5 months. Significantly up in trip. This a tough assignment on his first start on these shores.

Form: 012-

(14)

Sekifu^b1²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: C Demuro| T: K Take| OR: 112

11/2

12/1 and hood/cheekpieces on for 1st time, returned to form with a smart performance when ½-length second of 14 to Pinehurst in Saudi Derby at King Abdulaziz (8f) 4 weeks ago. This step up in trip should suit so he merits consideration sporting first-time blinkers.

Form: 31114-2

(8)

Summer Is Tomorrow²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: M Barzalona| T: B Seemar| OR: 98| C

28/1

One win from 3 runs last year. Wasted no time getting back to form returned to this venue when winning 10-runner minor event (7f, 11/2) 29 days ago, forging clear. Significantly up in trip.

Form: 271-241

(11)

Withering^t²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: A de Vries| T: F Nass| OR: 99| CD

22/1

C&D winner here in February. Ran at least as well in defeat when 1¼ lengths second of 12 to Quality Boone in listed race at this C&D (11/2) 3 weeks ago. Will need to improve if he's to have a say in proceedings.

Form: 222-312

(16)

Arabian Gazelles³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: R Mullen| T: B Seemar| OR: 98

125/1

Much improved from debut when 2 lengths second of 7 to Shahama in UAE Oaks (22/1) at this C&D 36 days ago. Another significant jolt of improvement required and has the widest stall of all to contend with.

Form: 42

Forecasts

Pinehurst (10/3), Combustion (4/1), Sekifu (11/2), Azure Coast (11/2), Crown Pride (11/1), Reiwa Homare (12/1), Bendoog (18/1), Quality Boone (18/1), Gilded Age (20/1), Irwin (20/1), Withering (22/1), Summer Is Tomorrow (28/1), Island Falcon (40/1), Kiefer (50/1), Get Back Goldie (80/1), Arabian Gazelles (125/1)

Last year's Del Mar Futurity winner PINEHURST put his experience to good use when making most in the Saudi Derby 4 weeks ago. Well berthed in stall 6, Bob Baffert's charge is taken to make his first start on these shores a winning one. Irwin was prolific in South America last year so he could have a say in proceedings, with Sekifu and Combustion also considered in an open renewal of the UAE Derby.