Excitement sets in at Meydan in final pre-Carnival meeting
dubai — Meydan Racecourse stages the first Emirates Racing Authority meeting of 2018 on Thursday evening with a septet of races, highlighted by a 1600m handicap and the first two races on the Meydan turf this season. Sponsored by Pillar Partner Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum City – District One it is also the final Meydan meeting before opening night of the 2018 Dubai World Cup Carnival next Thursday.
With 12 Meydan winners to his credit already this season, Champion Trainer Doug Watson, who has twice saddled four winners during a meeting at the track this campaign, looks to have strong chances throughout the card. That includes two in the feat ur ed1600m handicap: the great collection in post 10 and Galvanize in post 7.
Stable jockey Pat Dobbs has elected to ride The great collection, who was the trainer’ s 500 th victory when landing a 1400m Meydan handicap six weeks ago. Prior to that, he was third to stable companion Galvanize at the first Meydan fixture of the campaign in early November. Said effort was over Thursday’s 1600m course and distance, as was Galvanize’s subsequent victory four weeks ago. Sam Hitchcott, aboard that day, is again atop Galvanize.
Watson said: “This looks a good opportunity for both of them and it would be hard to separate them. Galvanize we hope is a Carnival horse and The great collection is already rated high enough for the Carnival, but this race comes at the right time for him. Both have had a nice break since their last race and seem in great form. The draw could have been kinder, but we have to be hopeful of a big run from both of them in a tough race.”
Salem bin Ghadayer was the trainer to follow at Jebel Ali last Friday where he celebrated a treble and he saddles four of the 10 runners, including Mailshot (post 4), the mount of Mickael Barzalona. The worldclass jockey will be riding in the UAE for the first time since the Dubai World Cup card in March.
A winner four times in England when trained by Mark Johnston, Mailshot will be making his local and dirt debut.
sports@khaleejtimes.com