Racecards
16:50 Meydan (UAE)
Al Maktoum Challenge R2 Sponsored By Gulf News (Group 2)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 1m 1f 110y
- Going: Fast
- Surface: Dirt
- AED 918,518 added
- Winner: AED 150,000
- 2nd: AED 50,002
- 3rd: AED 24,998
- 4th: AED 12,499
- Form 11/110-3
- Age 6
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 80
- Form 079468-
- Age 7
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 108
Verdict
Second Summer was beaten a nose by Furia Cruzada in this last year and ended a short campaign by taking the Godolphin Mile. He'll have needed his comeback in December and Doug Watson will have him ready. The winner went back to France last summer where she disappointed but didn't need a prep run a year ago so shouldn't be written off. Heavy Metal grabbed the rails early and made all for a comprehensive victory in Round 1 of this series over a mile. He came home clear from THUNDER SNOW with North America another 3l back in third. The winner isn't certain to get the inside berth this time and may have to work harder so the Godolphin entry, last season's UAE 2000 Guineas and Group 1 Prix Jean Prat winner, is taken to stay on past him in the closing stages.
Formwatch
Second Summer (USA) (9-3) 8th of 13, 14 1/4l behind Etijaah (9-0) at Meydan 1m 2f lst stks fst in Dec.
Eragon (ARG) 8-1 (8-8) Inside trip, no threat, 5th of 6, 3 3/4l behind Derby Express (8-5) at Indiana Grand Race Course 1m gd in Aug.
North America 7-2 (9-0) 3rd of 8, 12l behind Heavy Metal (9-0) at Meydan 1m Grp 2 fst in Jan.
Furia Cruzada (CHI) (9-6) 8th of 11, 6 1/4l behind Intimation (8-13) at Saint-Cloud 1m 2f Grp 3 sft in Oct.
Heavy Metal 13-8fav (9-0) won at Meydan 1m Grp 2 fst in Jan beating Thunder Snow (9-0) by 4 1/2l, 8 ran.
Thunder Snow (IRE) 2-1 (9-0) 2nd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Heavy Metal (9-0) at Meydan 1m Grp 2 fst in Jan.
Grendisar (IRE) 5-1 (9-5) In touch, pushed along over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 9, 7 1/4l behind Convey (9-5) at Lingfield 1m 2f stks (2) pol in Apr.
Cosmo Charlie (USA) 25-1 (9-0) 6th of 8, 18l behind Heavy Metal (9-0) at Meydan 1m Grp 2 fst in Jan.