Commander Z the one to beat in Mabrouk Sprint

UNITED STATES-BRED COMMANDER Z appears reprogrammed without blinkers for Saturday’s Mabrouk Sprint at five furlongs straight, his favourite trip, after two dull performances up in class against overnight-allowance winners.

Having skipped a level for his last two races, COMMANDER Z faces runners who have never won an overnight allowance, all non-winners of four races, with exposed form against quality opposition.

Since dead-heating with EL RAPIDO at five furlongs straight, November 23, suffering interference from MIDNIGHT FLIGHT in the final furlong and a half, COMMANDER Z’s voluntary jump in class for consecutive races defies logic.

In addition, COMMANDER Z’s two performances up in class, against seasoned overnight-allowance winners, were far better than indicated by the form lines and finishing positions.

First, drawn at post-position one at six furlongs, mid-December, COMMANDER Z briefly matched strides with crack sprinter BOOTYLICIOUS before being taken in hand at the half-mile marker when the speedster closed the rail negotiating the tight turn.

Kept in a pocket behind BOOTYLICIOUS by stablemates JOY IS GOLDEN and FREEDOM STREET, COMMANDER Z fell back to fifth approaching the three-pole before mending rapidly to straighten fourth along the rail before weakening a furlong out.

Making his seasonal debut on February 1, COMMANDER Z was wiped out at the start by LADY ABHIMALA darting left. Though spotting the field several lengths while racing eight down the backstretch behind all-the-way winner CALIFORNIA CROWN, COMMANDER Z effortlessly made up ground and was closing from off the pace when hindered by A GIFT FROM BEN in the stretch run.

Now drawn mid-track at five furlongs straight, the trip at which he has won two of his three races, twice dipping under 1:00.0, clocking 59.0 when dead-heating with EL RAPIDO, COMMANDER Z must be the obvious choice.

Looking great in the mornings clocking 1:07.0 for five and a half furlongs on February 10, COMMANDER Z returned last week Tuesday morning to post 1:00.1 from the gate.