Meydan Friday Preview - 04/02/22

The first selection of the afternoon over in Meydan comes in the Listed Jumeirah Classic and we believe the value lies with Island Falcon.

The three year old has been seen twice to date for the Godolphin trainer, finishing third on debut at Goodwood behind two impressive types on soft ground.

Next time out Island Falcon got off the mark and franked the form of that race when enjoying the switch to better ground.

Having hist first race of the year and first try at Meydan, he emphatically made it back to back wins when seeing off a nice type for Charlie Appleby by close to two lengths.

Down to a mile will suit and having handled the track well he should go close.

Next up is the Group Three Firebreak Stakes over a mile on the dirt and the former Roger Varian trained Prince Eiji looks the one to beat.

The six year old is a horse that loves fast ground, three starts ago finishing a narrow second at Ascot in the Listed Paradise Stakes.

He was then seen in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot and was totally outclassed by the field and subsequently sent to Doug Watson.

Watson gave him his first run for the yard in December when racing on dirt for the first time and he went on to finish a short head second over 7f.

Waited on for this event, getting an extra furlong which is bound to suit, he could be tough to beat now if handling the track as he did on his first try.

The feature event on the card is the Group Two Al Maktoum Challenge and Hot Rod Charlie makes big appeal for Doug O'Neill.

The American exploit is a dual Grade One winner on fast ground last year over in the US over nine furlongs and if replicating that form in this could be very tough to pass.

Two starts ago in November he finished a narrow fourth of eight in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar, which looks very strong form.

Last seen on Boxing Day in the Grade Two Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita he was a nose second and that would have set him up perfectly for his first run in Dubai.

Likeable profile on dirt and with William Buick in the saddle he looks solid.

The penultimate event of the afternoon is the Al Bastakiya Trial on dirt and the Charlie Appleby trained King Of Conquest looks a nice type.

The three year old colt has been seen three times to date having cost 900,000gns as a yearling and has shown some nice form on both the turf and dirt.

Making his debut in August over 7f at Sandown he was a ready winner by over two lengths and then looking to back it up could only finish third of six in a Conditions event at Newbury.

Seen for the first time this year over a mile at Meydan on his first try on dirt he was a neck second to a more experienced type and will build on that run in this event.

The final event of the afternoon is the Balanchine Group Two for Fillies' and Mares and Creative Flair for Charlie Appleby should not be far away.

The four year old filly has been a globetrotter for the yard over the last year but started his racing life in a good race at Ascot in July 2020, when sixth of 10 behind the smart Zabeel Queen and Snow Lantern.

Beating a nice filly in Statement on his second start at Sandown, she then backed that up at Ascot on his seasonal return last term when taking a very good Conditions Stakes.

Sent into the Listed Fillies' Stakes at York she was a good second to the smart Primo Bacio and then got back to winning ways on her first try at 10f at Newbury in another Listed event.

Next she made her first step out of the UK when third in a Group Three in Chantilly and backed that up at Saratoga when third again in a similar race.

Creative Flair was last seen at Belmont over 1m3f finishing fourth in a Conditions Stakes.

Today she moves back down to a more manageable trip and looks to have a big chance having a great record going well fresh.