14:05 Meydan

Friday 26 January 2024

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

Firebreak Stakes (Group 3) Presented By Longines - Dirt

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 1m 37.89s

(3)

Fort Payne¹³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Oisin Murphy| T: N Caullery| OR: 102| D

12/1

Smart horse. Three wins from 7 runs last year. 18/1, 7¾ lengths seventh of 10 to Fang in Prix du Pin at Longchamp (7f, good). Off 138 days. Has fine all-weather record. Makes dirt debut.

Form: 151507-

(8)

Echo Point¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: C Demuro| T: M Al Mheiri| OR: 92| D

12/1

Useful gelding. Thirteen runs since last win in 2021. Good length second of 9 to Thegreatcollection in handicap (6/1) at this course (7f) 14 days ago.

Form: 95470-2

(5)

Hypothetical^t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: Mickael Barzalona| T: Salem Ghadayer| OR: 112| CD

9/2

3-time C&D winner. Five wins from 16 Flat runs. 50/1, last of 13 in handicap at Meydan (9f, good) 14 days ago. Back on dirt and respected on old form.

Form: 0117/7-0

(9)

Imperial Ace⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: R Ffrench| T: Salem Ghadayer| OR: 87| D

66/1

Useful gelding. Two wins from 6 runs last year. 9/2, bit below form fourth of 10 in handicap at this C&D 7 days ago. Difficult ask.

Form: 9552-54

(4)

Make Me King⁸⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: C Soumillon| T: H Al Jehani| OR: 108| BF| D

11/1

Useful colt. Latest win at Deauville in August. First run since leaving A. Fabre when respectable 1½ lengths fifth of 16 to Jeff Koons in Qatar Derby at Doha (9.9f, good) 36 days ago. Down in trip.

Form: 2/31552-

(1)

Quality Humor^v¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Connor Beasley| T: Ahmad Harmash| OR: 93

18/1

Useful gelding. Respectable third of 11 in minor event at Sharjah (8.4f) 19 days ago. May need a few of these to falter.

Form: 34208-B

(10)

Royal Mews^t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: Andrew Slattery| T: B Seemar| OR: 104| CD

10/1

Smart gelding. C&D winner. Blinkered for 1st time, 21¼ lengths last of 9 to Isolate in Al Maktoum Mile Stakes at this C&D (8/1) 35 days ago. Bit to prove at present.

Form: 2/12309-

(2)

Southern Artist^b,t¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Antonio Fresu| T: B Seemar| CD

7/1

Useful gelding. C&D winner. Two wins from 3 runs last year, latest win in November. Eighth of 11 in minor event at Sharjah (8.4f) 19 days ago.

Form: 141-8

(6)

Thegreatcollection¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 9-0| J: A de Vries| T: D Watson| OR: 97| CD

5/1

Useful gelding. 3-time C&D winner. Didn't need to improve to win 9-runner handicap (25/1) at this course (7f) 14 days ago by length from Echo Point. Can give another good account.

Form: 38488-1

(11)

Western Symphony^t³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: T P O'Shea| T: B Seemar| OR: 105| CD

2/1

Useful gelding. C&D winner. Two wins from 6 runs last year, latest here in November. Creditable 3 lengths fourth of 8 to Atletico El Culano in listed race (5/2) at this course (9.4f) 35 days ago. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 216614-

Non-Runners

(7)

Saleymm⁴⁹

Weight: 9-0| Age: 6

T: Michael Costa J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Western Symphony (2/1), Saleymm (7/2), Hypothetical (9/2), Thegreatcollection (5/1), Southern Artist (7/1), Royal Mews (10/1), Make Me King (11/1), Echo Point (12/1), Fort Payne (12/1), Quality Humor (18/1), Imperial Ace (66/1)

A competitive renewal of this Group 3 contest and a chance is taken on the veteran THEGREATCOLLECTION but he'll have no room for error. It would be dangerous to write-off Hypothetical on the pick of his form, while Fort Payne shouldn't be underestimated.