Meydan Thursday Picks - 11/02/21

The first race of the day at Meydan on Thursday is the Emirates SkyCargo Handicap over 1m4f and the Ismail Mohammed trained Away He Goes takes the eye.

The five year old gelding has been in some decent form of late, landing a decent handicap at Doncaster back in September and then running another good race in a Group Three at Newbury to finish fifth of 12.

After having a little time off he returned last month at Meydan over the same course and distance and as a bold third in a good race behind Walton Street.

He runs in this race off the same mark as he his latest place run in a Listed handicap and this contest looks much easier on the face of it.

Next on the Meydan card is a Conditions event that sees Godolphin dominate the field again and the horse that looks the most likely winner from the owners is Secret Protector.

The three year old for Charlie Appleby has only been seen twice in his career, looking extremely useful on both his all weather outings and making his turf debut today could prove to be even better.

The son of War Front was bought for $800,000 and made his debut at Kempton over seven furlongs, finishing a nice third on debut behind the smart Megallan for John Gosden.

He improved for his first run to get off the mark over the same course and distance next time out, clearing away from the field by four lengths.

On that evidence he holds bundles of ability and looks the most likely winner of this event if improving once more.

One of the feature events of the day is the Group Two Al Maktoum Challenge on the dirt and our selection Blown By The Wins could be slightly over priced in the market.

The ex Mark Johnston trained gelding had previously shown glimpses of ability over seven furlongs and a mile, winning and placing in some modest events.

Now with trainer Salem bin Ghadayer he made his debut at Meydan over a mile and was a fair third behind classy stablemate Hypothetical.

Last time out he went over to Jebel Ali and got off the mark at the second time of asking for his new yard in a Group Three event and if running to a similar level and handling the extra distance, then he looks a big each way player.

The penultimate race on the card is another stellar event with the Group Two Al Rashidiya over 1m1f and we think the British will be taking this one home.

The superstar Lord Glitter is now turning eight and there was thoughts he may not be the horse of old, although having ran credibly in races such as the QEII, Summer Mile Stakes and York Stakes in England last term.

He is a past Royal Ascot Group One winner and returned to that form last time out when landing the Group Two Singspiel Stakes over course and distance at Meydan

He has only been seen at the Meydan track twice in his career, finishing a good third behind the Japanese star Almond Eye in a Group One and then last time out taking out a hot contest.

He is the worthy favourite of this event and if running to the same form of his last run will be hard to catch late on.

The final race on the afternoon in Abu Dhabi is the Emirates Skywards Turf Handicap over five furlongs and it sees some creditable sprinters head to post.

The horse that has caught our attention in the betting is the five year old Mutaraffa for owner Hamdan Al Maktoum, with the gelding being a very consistent runner in sprinting contests.

In Feburary last year the gelding was switched to sic furlongs and was a strong third, backing that up at Jebel Ali over the same trip by finishing a smart second in a handicap.

He made his seasonal return last month on his first try at five furlongs and was a good second behind the smart Quadrilateral for Charles Hills.

That form looks some of the best on offer in this race and if coming on for the run should be bang there once more.