14:05 Meydan

Friday 24 January 2025

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

Race 2 - UAE 2000 Guineas Presented By Longines - Group 3 - Dirt

Off time: 14:07 | Winning time: 1m 37.08s

(4)

Don Vaccaro²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: P J Dobbs| T: J Olascoaga| D

33/1

Dual winner in Uruguay. First run since leaving Julliano Viana when 8¾ lengths seventh of 12 to Golden Vekoma in 2000 Guineas Trial (9/1) at this course (7f) 3 weeks ago. Merits consideration.

Form: 711-7

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(5)

Giustino^t1¹³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: F Goncalves| T: J Olascoaga| D

25/1

Arrives unbeaten in 3 starts, his latest win in 10-runner Gran Premio Polla de Potrillos at Palermo (8f) by head from Nooresh back in September. First run for yard after leaving Marina Bragante Lopez. Every chance he can keep his 100% record in tact with better to come.

Form: 111-

(8)

Nam Phrik^t²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Jim Crowley| T: J Olascoaga| D

10/1

Multiple winner in Uruguay. 14/1 and tongue strap on for 1st time, first run since leaving Jorge J. Rey when 7¼ lengths fourth of 12 to Golden Vekoma in 2000 Guineas Trial at this course (7f) 3 weeks ago, late headway after slowly away. May well build on that.

Form: 31112-4

(7)

Arlan²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: S Hitchcott| T: D Watson

40/1

Two wins from 3 runs last year. First run since leaving Turghanzen Yuldashev when 9 lengths ninth of 12 to Golden Vekoma in 2000 Guineas Trial at this course (7f, 12/1) 3 weeks ago.

Form: 6112-9

(11)

Awab²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: D Tudhope| T: M Mheiri| C

12/1

Course winner in November. Bit below that level when 7¼ lengths fifth of 12 to Golden Vekoma in 2000 Guineas Trial at this course (7f, 4/1) 3 weeks ago.

Form:

(14)

Baloban

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: O Chavez| T: D Watson

33/1

Won 7-runner minor event at Almaty (8f) by head from Arlan on debut back in October. First run for yard after leaving Irina Keneskhan. Should progress.

Form: 11-

(10)

Force And Valour¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Callum Shepherd| T: G Scott| OR: 85

22/1

Two wins from 6 runs last year, latest at Newcastle in November. 20/1, below form sixth of 14 in minor event at this course (6f, good) 2 weeks ago. Significantly up in trip.

Form: 17321-6

(13)

Golden Vekoma^t²¹

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

6/1

40/1, won 12-runner 2000 Guineas Trial at this course (7f) 3 weeks ago by 2¼ lengths from Nimble Boy. Not taken lightly.

Form: 3-1

(12)

Heart Of Honor¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: A de Vries| T: J A Osborne| CD

15/8

C&D winner in December and followed up in 11-runner minor event at this C&D (4/6) a fortnight ago by 2½ lengths from Royal Favour. Open to further improvement and should be in the mix.

Form: 21-1

(1)

High Season^t1¹²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Andrew Slattery| T: B Seemar| OR: 90

33/1

10/3, won 6-runner novice at Redcar (7f, good) 4 months ago, leading around 2f out and quickening clear. First run for yard after leaving Charlie Johnston and he should progress further provided he takes to this surface.

Form: 201-

(15)

Midnight Thunder¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: S De Sousa| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 99

14/1

Two wins from 4 runs last year. 9/4, ran even worse dropped in grade after 3 months off when fourth of 14 in minor event at this course (6f, good) 2 weeks ago. Significantly up in trip. Makes all weather debut.

Form: 2119-4

(9)

Nimble Boy²¹

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

13/2

11/1, first run since leaving A. B. Shegushev when 2¼ lengths second of 12 to Golden Vekoma in 2000 Guineas Trial at this course (7f) 3 weeks ago, sticking to task.

Form: 112-2

(3)

Proud Samaritan^b1¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: F Bughanaim| T: H Jehani| OR: 59

28/1

Opened his account at Doha in November and followed up with a career-best effort in 14-runner minor event there (6.5f) 16 days ago. Up in trip.

Form: 24431-1

(6)

Rafid^b1⁹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: M Barzalona| T: D Watson| OR: 85| BF

16/1

Runner-up on 2 of his 4 starts at Gulfstream last year. Unable to land the odds when third of 9 in maiden there (8f, 6/10) when last seen 3 months ago. First run for yard after leaving Antonio Sano.

Form: 4223-

(16)

Royal Favour¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: W Buick| T: S & E Crisford

17/2

Built on debut promise despite again only finding one too good when 2½ lengths second of 11 to Heart of Honor in minor event at this C&D (9/2) 2 weeks ago, clear of rest. May well do better.

Form: 2-2

Non-Runners

(2)

Rammayy²¹

Weight: 8-9| Age: 3

T: M Costa J: R Dawson

Diamond Dealer¹⁸

Weight: 8-9| Age: 3

T: B Seemar J: Reserve 1

On The Way⁶

Weight: 8-9| Age: 3

T: S Ghadayer J: Reserve 2

Desert Shadow²¹

Weight: 8-9| Age: 3

T: S bin Suroor J: Reserve 3

Nedawy¹⁴

Weight: 8-9| Age: 3

T: R Bouresly J: Reserve 4

Forecasts

Heart Of Honor (15/8), Golden Vekoma (6/1), Nimble Boy (13/2), Royal Favour (17/2), Nam Phrik (10/1), Rammayy (10/1), Awab (12/1), Midnight Thunder (14/1), Rafid (16/1), Force And Valour (22/1), Giustino (25/1), Proud Samaritan (28/1), Don Vaccaro (33/1), High Season (33/1), Baloban (33/1), Arlan (40/1)

Cases can be made for several, but preference is for HEART OF HONOR, who made it 2-2 over C&D a fortnight ago and with better still to come, Jamie Osborne's colt can complete the hat-trick at the expense of Golden Vekoma, who caused a surprise when winning the Trial for this race 3 weeks ago. Giustino, Royal Favour and Don Vaccaro are just a handful of others to consider, too.