11:15 Jebel Ali

Saturday 28 January 2023

All10:1510:4511:1511:4512:1512:4513:15

Ascana Maiden Stakes

Off time: 11:15 | Winning time: 1m 13.30s

(2)

Al Khaldie^b1

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: O Chavez| T: R Bouresly

11/1

Shamardal gelding. Cost 80,000 UAE. Half-brother to French Group 1 winner Royal Meeting and British/UAE Group winner Heavy Metal. Dam Grade 1 winner in South Africa. Looks the part on paper but probably best watched on belated debut.

Form:

(4)

Benzema^h³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: R Ffrench| T: S Ghadayer| OR: 64

18/1

Winless after 15 runs. Cheekpieces on for 1st time, eighth of 9 in maiden (18/1) at Meydan (6f, good) 36 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 285688-

(1)

Distorted Effort

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: T P O'Shea| T: B Seemar

9/4

Distorted Humor colt. Cost £67,000. From US family. Market may be best guide on debut.

Form:

(9)

Exact Order⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: P J Dobbs| T: D Watson

3/1

Promising individual. 5/1, third of 11 in maiden at this course (7f) 42 days ago. Should have more to offer.

Form: 3-

(6)

Imperial Square³²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: F Herholdt| T: R Bouresly| OR: 68

25/1

Fair gelding. Remains a maiden after 8 Flat runs. Eighth of 16 in maiden (22/1) at this course (7f). Off 10 months. Makes only limited appeal.

Form: 7490/08-

(7)

Jacksonville^b1

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: M Ghorli| T: O Refai

50/1

Remains a maiden after 7 runs. 66/1 and blinkered for 1st time tongue strap on for 1st time, sixth of 7 in handicap at this course (9.7f) 27 days ago. Significantly down in trip. Uphill task.

Form:

(8)

Zahau^b¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: Sandro Paiva| T: B Seemar| OR: 68

9/1

Remains a maiden after 10 runs. 7/1, fifth of 8 in handicap at Meydan (6f) 13 days ago. Bit to prove at present.

Form: 97740-5

(3)

Energetic¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Bernardo Pinheiro| T: I Mohammed & J Santos

9/4

Fair colt. 7/2, sixth of 8 in handicap at Meydan (6f) 13 days ago. Sets the standard.

Form: 4-26

Non-Runners

(5)

Kite Wing⁶⁹⁴

Weight: 9-11| Age: 8

T: R Bouresly J: R Mullen

Forecasts

Distorted Effort (9/4), Energetic (9/4), Exact Order (3/1), Zahau (9/1), Al Khaldie (11/1), Benzema (18/1), Imperial Square (25/1), Kite Wing (25/1), Jacksonville (50/1)

ENERGETIC chased home a next-time-out winner over C&D earlier in the month and can take full advantage of his significant weight allowance in a race thin on realistic win contenders. Exact Order can step up on debut and chase the selection home, while Distorted Effort merits consideration on debut representing powerful connections.