Meydan Friday Preview - 11/02/22

The first of the day at Meydan on Friday is the 1m4f Handicap and near the bottom of the weights is Kingswear for Charlie Appleby who makes big appeal.

The five year old has only been seen four times in his career to date, starting in January 2020 when racing over todays trip at Kempton and finishing fourth of seven in a decent event.

Having needed the run that day he improved massively to get off the mark at the second time of asking at Wolverhampton.

Having a short break he returned in October of that year, again needing the run on his first start back finishing third of fifth.

Last time out he got back to winning ways at Chelmsford over 1m6f, revelling in the trip to score easily in a competitive handicap.

Having not been seen since December 2020 he offers the value in this field if fully wound up for the event, with his stamina being a big angle into this race.

The first big race of the day is the Group Three UAE 2000 Guineas where Get Back Goldie for Doug O'Neill could be tough to beat if building on his win at the track last time out.

The three year old has been an up and down horse during his career, racing four times, winning twice and then blowing up in his other two.

Making his debut in August 2021, he finished ninth of nine runners over six furlongs but then was moved up to a mile for his next start and got off the mark in fine style.

Trying the mile again in a Group Three event, he again underwhelmed only beating one home.

Given a break he returned last week at Meydan when landing a six furlong event on the dirt and with the track suiting and now back up to his preferred mile, he could go well.

The seven furlong Listed Business Bay Challenge sees a lot of familiar British raiders in the field and the one we are siding with is the Charlie Appleby trained Quintillus.

The four year old son of Dubawi has some very good form to his name around 7f to a mile and at the weights looks the value bet in the field.

Being a fair juvenile winning one of his two events on Kempton on the all weather, last season he needed his first two runs before heading to Royal Ascot and putting in a cracking effort in the Britannia Stakes on fast ground.

Finishing a tight third of 29 runners showed his class that day and he built on that when last seen in August over 7f at Newmarket when beating the talented Maxi Boy.

Not seen since then he should be finally tuned for this event and the step up to Listed company on this ground could suit.

The feature event of the day at Meydan is the Group Two Singspiel Stakes over 1m1f and it could be a special day for Charlie Appleby if Royal Fleet bolts in.

The four year old son of Dubawi has been has been a revelation for the Godolphin yard, winning all three of his first starts in taking style, with his final victory of three coming in a value handicap at Newmarket.

Looking to make it 4/4 at York he had to settle for fifth in a competitive handicap, but bounced back on his final run of the season at Doncaster.

Given a break he returned at Meydan in January and made a superb seasonal debut when a good second in the Group Two Al Rashidiya and if building on that has leading claims over the same course and distance.

The final event of the afternoon sees the Group Three Al Shindagha over six furlong on the dirt and the sprinter we can't get away from is Positivity for Doug O'Neill.

Lacking enthusiasm on his first two starts, he has since turned in to a very smart horse over six and seven furlongs and is certainly a horse who does not lack pace.

In October 2021, he got off the mark at the third time of asking over 7f at Santa Anita and then backed that up at Del Mar next time out when a nose second.

Having his first run of this year he was another fair second on his first try over six furlongs and with Buick in the saddle for the first time that could bring big improvement.