15:50 Meydan

Friday 12 January 2024

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:3518:10

Al Wasl Stakes Presented By Nakheel Stakes - Turf

Off time: 15:52 | Winning time: 1m 9.62s

(13)

Starlust⁷⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: H Crouch| T: R M Beckett| OR: 108| D

9/4

Useful colt. Three wins from 8 runs last year. 240/10, very good 1¼ lengths third of 12 to Big Evs in Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Santa Anita (5f, firm) 70 days ago. Strictly the one to beat on form.

Form: 122153-

(12)

Myconian^b,t¹⁸⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Ben Coen| T: Amy Murphy| OR: 99

50/1

Fairly useful gelding. Latest win at Deauville in July. 8¼ lengths fourth of 5 to Ramatuelle in Prix Robert Papin (13/1) at Chantilly (6f, good). Off 180 days.

Form: 350614-

(5)

Zorken^b1⁸⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Tomas Lukasek| T: Mme I Koplikova| OR: 103| D

33/1

Useful colt. Four wins from 7 runs last year, including in listed race at Deauville when last seen in October. First run for yard after leaving B. De Montzey. Merits consideration.

Form: 121261-

(8)

Great Truth¹⁸¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Mickael Barzalona| T: C Appleby| OR: 97

9/2

Twice-raced winner. 3/1, 9¾ lengths fourth of 9 to City of Troy in Superlative Stakes at Newmarket (7f, good to soft). Off 6 months. Likely to improve and enters calculations.

Form: 14-

(10)

Nezeeh³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Cristian Demuro| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 87| D

25/1

Fairly useful gelding. One win from 3 runs last year. 11/4, fourth of 10 in minor event at Meydan (8f) 35 days ago. Back down in trip and returns to turf.

Form: 134-

(4)

Pure Ambition^b1

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: O Chavez| T: M Al Mheiri

66/1

Iffraaj gelding. Cost €34,568 as a juvenile. Half-brother to a couple of minor winners. From family of Group 1 sprint winner Namid. In tough spot for debut.

Form:

(11)

Salvuccio^p⁹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: P Cosgrave| T: G Boughey| OR: 89

40/1

Two wins from 5 runs last year. Career best when winning 7-runner minor event (7/4) at Newcastle (5f). Off 91 days. Progressive.

Form: 52411-

(3)

Seven Questions⁹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Callum Shepherd| T: George Scott| OR: 102| D

13/2

Useful gelding. Three wins from 9 runs last year. Creditable 2½ lengths third of 7 to Classic Flower in Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte at Chantilly (6f, good, 3/1). Off 97 days. Will need to eke out further improvement to play a part.

Form: 113233-

(7)

Theeban^b1,t⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Saif Al Balushi| T: Ahmad Harmash| OR: 71

80/1

Modest colt. Cheekpieces on for 1st time, last of 15 in minor event at this course (7f, good, 66/1) 7 days ago. Very hard to make a case for.

Form: 67-0

(2)

Thunder Blue⁶⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Jim Crowley| T: D J S Ffrench Davis| OR: 95| BF| D

25/1

Fairly useful colt. Respectable second of 5 in minor event (5/4) at Lingfield (6f, AW) 68 days ago.

Form: 154892-

(6)

Zoulu Chief⁹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: P J Dobbs| T: H Main| OR: 97| BF| D

17/2

Useful colt. Three wins from 7 runs last year, latest at York in August. Evens, below form fifth of 22 in minor event at Newmarket (6f, good to firm), going off too hard. Off 97 days.

Form: 107115-

(14)

Star Of Mystery^t¹⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: William Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 100| D

2/1

Two wins from 5 runs last year. Tongue strap on for 1st time, 2 lengths sixth of 8 to Relief Rally in Lowther Stakes at York (6f, good to firm, 11/2). Off 141 days.

Form: 21126-

(9)

Aram²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Connor Beasley| T: Ahmad Harmash

80/1

Fair filly. Fourth of 11 in minor event at Abu Dhabi (7f, good) 29 days ago. Something to find on form.

Form: 54-

Non-Runners

(1)

Bombay Bazaar¹¹²

Weight: 9-0| Age: 3

T: B Seemar J: T P O'Shea

Forecasts

Star Of Mystery (2/1), Starlust (9/4), Great Truth (9/2), Seven Questions (13/2), Zoulu Chief (17/2), Bombay Bazaar (16/1), Thunder Blue (25/1), Nezeeh (25/1), Zorken (33/1), Salvuccio (40/1), Myconian (50/1), Pure Ambition (66/1), Aram (80/1), Theeban (80/1)

STARLUST holds the aces on his Breeders' Cup effort and a repeat of that would make him very hard to beat. Great Truth doesn't necessarily appeal as though a drop in trip will suit on pedigree but connections wouldn't put him in this spot for no reason and he can chase the selection home, ahead of Zorken.