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15:45 Curragh (IRE)

Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Sapphire Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1)

  • 6 Runners
  • Distance: 5f
  • Going: Good to Firm
  • Surface: Turf
  • €65,000 added
  • Winner: €39,000
  • 2nd: €12,350
  • 3rd: €5,850
  • 4th: €1,950
Weighed In
  • Off Time: 15:45:05
  • 6 Ran
2(2)
Silk - Red, white hoop, white armlet, white cap, red diamond
7/2
  • Form 712402
  • Age 6
  • Weight 9-9
  • Official Rating 105

held up, 5th from 2f out, kept on without threatening final furlong, went 4th from 50yds out

3(3)
Silk - White, Dark Blue striped sleeves, Dark Blue and Yellow hooped cap
  • Form 769177
  • Age 7
  • Weight 9-9
  • Official Rating 104

tracked leaders, pushed along from halfway, challenged from over 1f out on outer and wandered slightly, soon 3rd, every chance final furlong, no impression and kept on same pace closing stages

4(1)
Silk - White & royal blue chevrons, royal blue sleeves, striped cap
  • Form 40-2516
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-6
  • Official Rating 101

stumbled leaving stalls, held up, pushed along 2f out, soon dropped to last and no impression, no extra inside final furlong

5(6)
Silk - RED, royal blue seams, check cap
  • Form 2091-41
  • Age 6
  • Weight 9-6
  • Official Rating 101

led early, soon joined, headed from 2f out, dropped to 4th from 1f out, soon no impression and no extra in 5th from 50yds out

6(4)
Silk - Grey, purple seams, purple sleeves & cap
  • Form 934-001
  • Age 3
  • Weight 9-3
  • Official Rating 100

tracked leader, soon disputed lead, travelling smoothly and led from 2f out, strongly pressed inside final furlong, headed near finish

7(5)
Silk - Dark Blue
  • Form 214-807
  • Age 3
  • Weight 9-3
  • Official Rating 94

pushed along to soon track leaders, pushed along from halfway, challenged in 2nd 1f out, stayed on well final furlong to lead near finish

1(7)
NR

Maarek

35 BFCDCD
  • Form 10-7212
  • Age 7
  • Weight 10-0
  • Official Rating 115

Previous results

In depth

Verdict

Maarek hardly ever runs on quick ground and the majority of his dozen victories have come on going with plenty of give. The Duke Of York Stakes winner found Slade Power too good here last month but that was no disgrace and it will be a surprise if he's not in the mix despite conditions. He had TIMELESS CALL behind when runner-up to Guerre at Naas in April but the latter is much more at home on this faster surface as he showed when landing a Listed contest at Cork from today's rival Jamesie so he's taken to gain his first Group victory. Monsieur Joe is a very useful handicapper though he's another who could find the ground a bit lively so it's the three-year-old Extortionist who looks a more likely threat as he thrives in fast ground.

Formwatch

Jamesie (IRE) 12-1 (9-9) Chased leaders, 7th halfway, progress on far side 1f out, ridden to go 2nd 100 yards out and edged left, kept on, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Timeless Call (9-7) at Cork 5f Listed stks (1) gf.

Monsieur Joe (IRE) 12-1 (9-7) Held up in mid-division, headway under pressure over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, not reach leaders, 7th of 19, 2 1/4l behind Caspian Prince (9-0) at Epsom Downs 5f hcp (2) gd.

Scream Blue Murder (IRE) 5-2 (9-4) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, short of room over 1f out and soon dropped to rear, ridden and kept on inside final furlong, 6th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Timeless Call (9-7) at Cork 5f Listed stks (1) gf.

Timeless Call (IRE) 8-1 (9-7) Led or disputed lead, led over 1f out, ridden and kept on well inside final furlong, won at Cork 5f Listed stks (1) gf beating Jamesie (9-9) by 1/2l, 8 ran.

Extortionist (IRE) 8-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders, switched right to challenge over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on strongly, won at Newmarket 5f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gf beating Speed Hawk (8-13) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.

Fountain Of Youth (IRE) 12-1 (9-0) Raced in 2nd, ridden and weakened quickly under 3f out, no impression and dropped to rear under 2f out, tailed off, last of 7, 23l behind Wannabe Better (9-6) at Leopardstown 7f Grp 3 (1) gf.

Maarek 11-8fav (10-0) Soon raced towards rear in 5th, pushed along after halfway to close in 4th 2f out, 2nd from under 1f out but soon no impression, kept on same pace, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Slade Power (10-0) at Curragh 6f Grp 3 (1) in May.