Meydan Thursday Preview - 23/12/21

Nicholas Bachalard boasts a 50% place rate with his 2yo runners and there's plenty reason to expect a bold bid from another out of his 2yo crop, Yakfeek, his sole representative at Meydan on the day.

Yakfeek, a son of Speightster, saw his price drastically shoot up from $52,000 as a foal to $160,000 as a yearling, clearly showing the right signs from young to be a potential high quality runner.

He went off as a well fancied 7/4 favourite on debut over 5f, however failed to deliver on that market promise, becoming outpaced over the minimum trip.

He'll be sure to have learnt plenty from that run, is expected to progress plenty from his debut run, and should now produce a much better showing upped in trip to 6f, especially given he is well related to US 6f-7f Graded winners.

Formerly with Charlie Appleby, Discovery Island showed vast improvements last time out on the back of an 11 month break, switched to dirt for the first time.

Despite breaking awkwardly, he made smooth progress to make up ground over the 6f trip before running on well to assert dominance by a 5.75L margin in his maiden contest, recording an RPR of 85.

He's open to plenty further progress upon the surface, should in no way be inconvenienced by the step back up to 7f given the manner of his last time out win, and he now makes the first time entrance into handicap company off a more than attainable mark of 82.

He should strip fitter and come on plenty for his returning run and appears the one to beat for the in form Bhupat Seemar and Tadhg O'Shea duo.

Khuzaam was a useful A/W performer for former connections whilst situated at the Roger Varian stable, placing runner-up in listed company on three occasions and landing a pair of class 2 events back to back earlier this year.

The son of Kittens Joy made a promising start to life under Doug Watson last time out on his first run upon dirt, holding every chance from a furlong out before just staying on a little one paced over the 6f trip, missing out by less than half a length at the line to finish 3rd.

That was his first run in five months and he'll be sure to come on for that effort and appreciate the step up in trip to 7f at which he has won over before.

He sits well clear at the top of the ratings for this rated conditions event and should take all the beating under the in-form Dane O'Neill in the saddle.

Atlantic Sky remains completely unexposed after just two career starts, improving vastly from his debut run for Doug Watson in February to return under new stewardship last time out in November to win in taking fashion over the 7f trip.

After being backed into 11/4 joint favouritism for his stable debut, he was notably slow into stride however settled nicely in the rear before running on impressively just over a furlong out to swoop through and take up the running in the final strides.

He remains open to plenty further progressions second time out, should relish the step up in trip to 8f and re-appears during a good spell for trainer Musabah Al Muhairi and retained jockey Antonio Fresu.

Former Godolphin stablemate Al Nefud appears the danger given he is of an unknown quality on stable debut, dropped markedly in trip on the back of a lengthy layoff.

In form jockey, Antonio Fresu, has piloted several of todays runners on their most recent efforts so it may be considered a sign in itself that he opts to do the steering on board Meraas in the lucky last.

Formerly a solid class 2 handicapper in the UK for Mark Johnston, Meraas has recently made the switch to the Middle East and holds plenty potential to show improvement for the first time switch to dirt under new stewardship.

He marks his return from a 131 day break, is drawn well in stall 2 and sits at the top of the ratings in this contest.

If improving for the switch to his new yard we can expect him to figure.

A chance is taken in the last on Will To Win to make a winning start to life in the Middle East under new stewardship.

Formerly of Simon and Ed Crisford, the son of Showcasing won 4 of his first 5 career starts before placing runner-up off a mark of 96 at his peak, all runs coming over todays 6f trip.

He subsequently tailed off toward the back end of 2020 however showed a flash of revitalised form when last seen at Chelmsford in February, finishing a respectable 4th at class 3 level.

He marks his return from a 322 day break here, however may just offer a much improved proposition under his new trainer upon dirt for the first time.

Plenty of todays rivals have something to prove over the 6f trip and a speculative chance is taken on Will To Win to return to the levels of performance previously shown in the UK off an attainable handicap mark of 88.