15:55 Meydan

Saturday 26 March 2022

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

Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (Group 1) (Turf)

Off time: 16:01 | Winning time: 2m 26.88s

(10)

Authority²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: C P Lemaire| T: T Kimura| OR: 121| D

5/1

Very smart horse. Didn't need to improve to win 14-runner Group 3 Neom Turf Cup (2/1) at King Abdulaziz (10.4f, firm) 28 days ago by 1¼ lengths from Kaspar, driven out. Respected.

Form: 0/2012-1

(14)

Dubai Future^p²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: P Cosgrave| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 112| CD

50/1

Smart gelding. C&D winner. Five wins from 19 Flat runs. Latest win here in January. Respectable fifth of 14 in handicap at King Abdulaziz (14.9f, firm, 12/1) 28 days ago.

Form: 538-145

(13)

For The Top^t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: A Fresu| T: M Al Mheiri| OR: 102

100/1

Smart horse. Below form 12 lengths seventh of 14 to Hypothetical in Maktoum Challenge Round 3 at Meydan (9.9f, 14/1) 21 days ago. Back up in trip. Others have achieved more.

Form: 0001-47

(6)

Glory Vase¹⁰⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: C Soumillon| T: T Ozeki| OR: 123| D

13/2

Very smart horse. Career best when winning 8-runner Hong Kong Vase (85/100) at Sha Tin (11.9f, good) by length from Pyledriver, pushed out. Off 104 days. Merits consideration.

Form: 15/4231-

(11)

Hukum^t²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Jim Crowley| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 116| CD

9/1

Very smart horse. Didn't need to be at best when winning 14-runner Dubai City of Gold at this C&D (good, 4/5) 21 days ago by head from Without A Fight. Not taken lightly.

Form: 31121-1

(2)

Kaspar^t1²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: R Ferreira| T: Mk Alhirabi| OR: 113

66/1

Smart horse. Tongue strap on for 1st time, creditable 1¼ lengths second of 14 to Authority in Group 3 Neom Turf Cup at King Abdulaziz (10.4f, firm, 50/1) 28 days ago.

Form: 8845-72

(1)

Pyledriver²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: L Dettori| T: W R Muir| OR: 120| D

17/2

Very smart horse. Two wins from 4 runs last year, notably Coronation Cup at Epsom. Latest win at Lingfield in November. Disappointed in Saudi Arabia last month but had excuses. Not taken lightly.

Form: 7/2112-0

(5)

Without A Fight²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 109| D

40/1

Smart gelding. 16/1, first run since leaving Simon & Ed Crisford when good head second of 14 to Hukum in Dubai City of Gold at this C&D (good) 21 days ago, sticking to task. Has work to do.

Form: 38411-2

(9)

Alenquer²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 115| D

13/2

Very smart colt. Two wins from 5 runs last year. 11/4, career best when winning 7-runner Winter Derby at Lingfield (10f, AW) 28 days ago by 2½ lengths from Lord North, readily. Live player.

Form: 11329-1

(15)

Burgas²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: A Celik| T: Y Ari| OR: 110| D

100/1

Useful colt. 20/1, creditable 3¾ lengths fourth of 12 to Royal Fleet in Dubai Millennium Stakes at this course (9.9f, good) 29 days ago. First run for yard after leaving Tevfik Bardakci.

Form: 11411-4

(7)

Dubai Honour^t¹⁰⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: James Doyle| T: W J Haggas| OR: 121

11/1

High-class gelding. Three wins from 6 runs last year. Respectable 1¼ lengths fourth of 12 to Loves Only You in Hong Kong Cup (42/10) at Sha Tin (9.9f, good), running on. Off 104 days. Big shout if seeing out longer trip.

Form: 411124-

(8)

Shahryar^h1¹¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: C Demuro| T: H Fujiwara| OR: 120| D

13/2

High-class colt. Two wins from 5 runs last year. Creditable 3½ lengths third of 18 to Contrail in Japan Cup at Tokyo (11.9f, good to firm, 27/10). Off 118 days. Needs considering.

Form: 1/31143-

(4)

Stella Veloce^h1⁶⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: M Demuro| T: N Sugai| OR: 119| BF

16/1

Very smart colt. Winner at Chukyo in September. Creditable ¾-length second of 16 to Yoho Lake in Group 2 Nikkei Shinshun Hai at Chukyo (10.9f, good to firm) 69 days ago.

Form: 33144-2

(12)

Yibir^h¹⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 120| D

7/2

High-class gelding. Four wins from 8 runs last year. 85/10, career best when winning 14-runner Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar (12f, firm) by ½ length from Broome. Off 140 days. Shortlist material.

Form: 216111-

(3)

Uberleben^h1⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: D Lane| T: T Tezuka| OR: 113| BF| D

33/1

Smart filly. Creditable 2 lengths fifth of 13 to African Gold in Group 2 Kyoto Kinen at Hanshin (10.9f, good) 41 days ago.

Form: 33106-5

Forecasts

Yibir (7/2), Authority (5/1), Shahryar (13/2), Alenquer (13/2), Glory Vase (13/2), Pyledriver (17/2), Hukum (9/1), Dubai Honour (11/1), Stella Veloce (16/1), Uberleben (33/1), Without A Fight (40/1), Dubai Future (50/1), Kaspar (66/1), Burgas (100/1), For The Top (100/1)

YIBIR ended his 3-y-o campaign with a remarkable win in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar and he's likely to make a big impact in the top middle-distance races this year, starting with this. Glory Vase looked as good as ever when beating Pyledriver in the Hong Kong Vase and rates a big threat along with Japanese Derby winner and Japan Cup third Shahryar.