Racecards
19:45 Dundalk (IRE)
Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Pat Smullen Mercury Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1)
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 5f
- Going: Standard
- Surface: Polytrack
- €50,000 added
- Winner: €30,000
- 2nd: €10,000
- 3rd: €5,000
- 4th: €2,500
- Form 1-80809
- Age 6
- Weight 9-13
- Official Rating 100
rear of mid-division, came wide entering straight, under pressure 2f out, soon lost place, ridden and kept on same pace final furlong
- Form 221-130
- Age 3
- Weight 9-13
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer C O'Brien
- Jockey M C Hussey
tracked leader, under pressure and ridden 1 1/2f out, soon lost place, dropped to 5th under 1f out, kept on same pace
- Form 11-8728
- Age 4
- Weight 9-13
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer R M H Cowell
- Jockey S Foley
dwelt, soon raced towards rear, pushed along and progress 1 1/2f out, soon switched left, ridden and kept on in 4th under 1f out, not trouble principals
- Form 292252
- Age 5
- Weight 9-13
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer J P Murtagh
- Jockey Ben Coen
chased leader, 5th 3f out, headway over 1f out, ridden to close under 1f out, led narrowly final 100 yards, kept on best under pressure
- Form 2331-85
- Age 3
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 80
mid-division, no impression on leaders over 1f out, lost place and kept on same pace under 1f out
- Form 144250
- Age 3
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer J A Stack
- Jockey Gary Halpin
close up, niggled along in 4th 3f out, lost place and ridden over 1f out, weakened under 1f out
- Form 026516
- Age 3
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer J A Stack
- Jockey M A Enright
bumped leaving stalls, soon rear of mid-division, not much room behind horses 1 1/2f out, switched right over 1f out, ridden and ran on under 1f out, never nearer
- Form 625160
- Age 3
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer J A Stack
- Jockey C D Maxwell
in touch on inner, 3rd 3f out, ridden under 2f out, lost place over 1f out, weakened final furlong
- Form 94-6261
- Age 4
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer G M Lyons
- Jockey Colin Keane
broke well to lead, travelled well 2f out, ridden 1f out, strongly pressed under 1f out, headed final 100 yards, dropped to 3rd and kept on same pace
- Form 0-72350
- Age 5
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer J F Grogan
- Jockey A J Slattery
edged right and bumped rival leaving stalls, soon raced towards rear, ridden under 2f out, no impression, weakened over 1f out, never a factor
- Form 212670
- Age 3
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer J A Stack
- Jockey Chris Hayes
chased leader, ridden and no impression over 1f out, lost place 1f out, ridden and kept on same pace final furlong
- Form 511888
- Age 2
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer A P O'Brien
- Jockey G M Ryan
towards rear, came wide entering straight, ridden over 1f out, kept on final furlong, never on terms
- Form 131
- Age 2
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer Phillip Makin
- Jockey Declan McDonogh
chased leader, progress 1 1/2f out, ridden and closed under 1f out, kept on well in 2nd closing stages, held
- Form 81310
- Age 2
- Weight 8-6
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer D Hogan
- Jockey J M Sheridan
in rear, slightly detached after 2f, no impression 2f out, weakened over 1f out, never a factor
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
A two-year-old won this last year and Philip Makin sends Newcastle and York winner MUKER on the journey from Yorkshire. Narrowly beaten behind the smart Tactical in the Windsor Castle, he looks just the type for this. Robert Cowell also sends Rocket Action from the UK and, though all four victories have come on Tapeta, he's been competing well in pattern race company. It's hardly surprising that My Laureate has been elevated to Group 3 company after an incredible rise of 19lb for an impressive four-length victory over Urban Beat here a fortnight ago. He's a pound better off with the runner-up, who is very consistent at this sort of level, but Back To Brussels was well beaten and looks held.
Formwatch
Alfredo Arcano (IRE) 11-1 (9-8) Chased leader on outer, 5th halfway, under pressure 2f out, lost place and ridden 1 1/2f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 11, 8 3/4l behind My Laureate (9-3) at Dundalk 5f pol in Oct.
Big Gossey (IRE) 17-2 (8-9) Chased leaders on stand's side, weakened from 2f out, 19th of 22, 19 1/2l behind Mr Lupton (9-9) at Curragh 6f hcp gd in Sep.
Rocket Action 22-1 (9-13) With leaders, pushed along 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, last of 8, 5 3/4l behind Tarboosh (9-13) at Doncaster 5f lst stks (1) gd in Sep.
Urban Beat (IRE) 5-4fav (9-8) Towards rear, 9th halfway, not much room on outer and checked 1 1/2f out, headway 1f out, kept on in 2nd final 100 yards, not trouble easy winner, 2nd of 11, 4l behind My Laureate (9-3) at Dundalk 5f pol in Oct.
Allez Sophia (IRE) 9-4fav (9-7) Uneasy in stalls, soon mid-division, still travelling smoothly behind horses over 2f out, soon switched left to inner and effort, kept on without matching principals closing stages, 5th of 12, 1 1/4l behind A Step Too Far (9-11) at Cork 6f hcp fll gd in Sep.
American Lady (IRE) 22-1 (8-12) Held up near side, ridden along when groups merged 2f out, soon struggling, 14th of 16, 11 1/4l behind Exceptional (8-12) at Ayr 5f lst fll stks (1) gs in Sep.
Back To Brussels (IRE) 9-2 (9-7) In touch on inner, 2nd halfway, dropped to 3rd and ridden over 1f out, no impression, weakened final furlong, 6th of 11, 7 3/4l behind My Laureate (9-3) at Dundalk 5f pol in Oct.
Lady Maura (IRE) 10-1 (8-6) Rear of mid-division, ridden and no impression on leaders over 1f out, no extra final furlong., 10th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Ardhoomey (9-6) at Cork 5f hcp gd in Aug.
My Laureate (IRE) 8-1 (9-3) Broke well to lead, made all, increased advantage after 2f, 2 lengths clear and ridden 1f out, ran on strongly final furlong, easily, won at Dundalk 5f pol in Oct beating Urban Beat (9-8) by 4l, 11 ran.
Rapid Reaction (IRE) 80-1 (9-3) Towards rear on outer, ridden 2f out, weakened, 10th of 14, 7 1/4l behind Glass Slippers (9-3) at Curragh 5f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Sep.
You'resobeautiful (IRE) 80-1 (9-2) Dwelt, soon mid-division, ridden 2f out, weakened, 11th of 14, 7 1/2l behind Glass Slippers (9-3) at Curragh 5f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Sep.
Giorgio Vasari (IRE) 8-1 (9-5) Soon led, pushed along after halfway, headed 2 1/2f out, soon no impression and weakened from over 1f out, last of 8, 17 1/2l behind New Treasure (9-5) at Curragh 6f Grp 3 stks (1) hvy in Aug.
Muker (IRE) 11-10fav (9-9) Prominent, led 4f out, nudged out inside final furlong, reduced lead towards finish but always doing enough, won at York 5f stks (5) gs in Jul beating Credible (8-11) by nk, 11 ran.
Lady Princess (IRE) 11-1 (9-2) Keen, soon tracked leaders, close 8th halfway, not much room 2f out, soon pushed along, no extra inside final furlong, last of 10, 10l behind A Case Of You (9-5) at Curragh 6f Grp 3 stks (1) sft in Oct.