Claim The Roses to go one better

DEBUT: HE RUNS AT MEYDAN FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER DOING WELL AT JEBEL ALI LAST WEEK

His stablemates Mailshot and Flashy Snappy could be his biggest dangers along with Great Collection and Galvanize. Dubai

Leading Emarati trainer Salem bin Ghadayer, fresh from saddling a treble at Jebel Ali on Friday, looks set to continue his strong recent form and start the New Year with a bang at Meydan today.

In Race 3, the feature over 1600m on dirt, Bin Ghadayer has sound claims of taking first prize with one of his four runners.

Royston Ffrench has been booked to ride Claim The Roses. The USA-bred gelding, returning from a layoff, made a pleasing start to his UAE career when chasing home stable companion Frankyfourfingers at Jebel Ali on Friday last week. If the sevenyear-old has recovered from his exertions he should go well on his Meydan debut.

British import Mailshot was formerly trained by Mark Johnston for whom he was a useful performer – winning four times, three on the all-weather. By Hard Spun, he should to take to the surface and has the assistance of top French rider Mickael Barzalona.

At Meydan’s latest fixture Flashy Snappy took a big step forward when finishing a creditable second to Sea Skimmer, just failing to hold the late burst of Helal Al Alawi’s exciting colt. From the foot of the weights he’s fancied to be in the mix.

Mind That Boy, Bin Ghadayer’s final runner, has to improve on recent form to open his local account at the eighth time of asking.

Doug Watson, the season’s leading trainer, has found Meydan a happy hunting ground this winter. Progressive Galvanize and recent Meydan winner Thegreatcollection bid to give the American another valuable prize.

Pat Dobbs, Watson’s stable jockey, has elected to remain loyal to Thegreatcollection, having steered the gelding to a decisive victory here earlier in the campaign. Thegreatcollection shaped as if he had more to offer.

Despite a wide draw, the USAbred four-year-old makes plenty of appeal and should be the biggest danger to Bin Ghadayer’s battalion.

Galvanize, unbeaten in two appearances at Meydan since returning from his summer break, is progressing the right way and is fancied to be in shake-up in the hands of Sam Hitchcott.

Satish Seemar’s charge Secret Ambition won here four weeks ago, holding off the late challenge of Power Crazy. The runner-up did little for form next time and Richard Mullen’s mount makes limited appeal stepping up in grade.

Loures is fancied to overcome a wide draw in the opening race, a 1600m maiden on dirt. Trained by Maria Ritchie, he has made the frame in both his outings at Meydan since leaving Godolphin. He’ll relish the step up in distance and can get off the mark at the fourth time of asking under in-form Ffrench, who took riding honours with a treble at Jebel Ali last week.

Race 4, the 1400m conditions race for three-year-olds, is a fascinating event and should provide some clues for the Dubai Triple Crown races later in the season.

In an open-looking contest, Silvestre De Sousa-ridden Daffg gets a tentative vote. He finished a good second to Mazeed over this course and distance on his most recent outing in late November, an admirable effort tackling his elders.

Recent Meydan winner Circle Dream, representing Seemar, looks the main danger under a penalty, while Wasim, who wasn’t disgraced on his local and dirt debut in a competitive handicap, is another to consider.