Who To Follow At Meydan On Friday - 28/01/22

Meydan 16:20

6(7)

Wirko

J: James Doyle

T: Charlie Appleby

N/A

Age: 4

Weight: 8-13

OR: 102

Days: 14

A smart Listed event at Meydan on Friday sees the Zabeel Turf over 1m2f and we are giving another chance who we felt was unlucky in running last time out at Meydan.

The Charlie Appleby trained Wirko is an exceptionally well bred son of Kingman costing €700,00 and has been seen five times to date.

As a juvenile he ran twice, finishing a good second on debut at Wolverhampton, before getting off the mark at Kempton beating a nice type for John Gosden.

Back last season for his three year old campaign, he was seen twice again, making a superb debut at Epsom in the Listed Blue Riband Trial when winning from off the pace.

He was then sent to Chester for the Grade Three Chester Vase and in slower conditions was a tame fourth.

After a fair amount of time off he returned at Meydan two weeks back over 1m4f and the race did not go to plan.

We are putting that down to a bad day at the office and knowing he is better than that, hopefully he will give his true running in this.

Form: View

Date	Course	Distance	Type	Weight	Position
14/01/22	MEY	12	Gd	8-11	12
05/05/21	CHS	12.5	GS	9-0	4
20/04/21	EPS	10	Gd	9-1	1
05/11/20	KEM	8	St/Slw	9-5	1
22/10/20	WOL	8.5	St	9-5	2

Doug Watson has been a master trainer at Meydan for numerous years now and on Friday has some lovely chances to add to his ever growing tally.

One of his best chances of the day comes in the Downtown Dubai Cup with Mubakker looking to land back to back races at the track, this time over a furlong further.

Another big runner for Watson comes in the final event of the afternoon with Motafaawit primed for a big run in the Listed Dubai Sprint.

William Buick has been one of the best jockeys in the world consistently for a number of years now and since the turn of the year he has been in flying form round Meydan.

On Friday Buick has some lovely chances to get in the winners enclosure starting with Kemari in the Listed Al Khail Trophy, with the gelding looking to find his Royal Ascot form.

In the Listed Zabeel Turf he holds big credentials with Star Safari who is a winner at the track and was a decent second last time out over C&D.

In the feature event of the afternoon he sits on Path Of Thunder who was a brave winner in the Zabeel Trophy last time out and should give his running once more.

Buick heads into the meeting sporting a 29% strike rate for the last two weeks which has seen him land four winners from 14 rides.