The great collection and Galvanize carry Watson’ s hopes of more success at Meydan
Trainer Doug Watson will be looking to continue his impressive form from last year at Meydan Racecourse when the first meeting of 2018 in the UAE takes place tonight.
Watson has 12 winners at Meydan to his credit this season and he has a number of strong contenders set to compete on the seven-race card.
That includes two in the featured 1,600m handicap, The great collection and Galvanize, who have been respectively drawn in Gates No 2 and 7 for the race.
“This looks a good opportunity for both of them and it would be hard to separate them,” Watson said in a statement.
“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.”
Pat Dobbs has elected to ride The great collection, who was the trainer’s 500th victory when landing a 1,400m Meydan handicap six weeks ago.
Before that, he was third to stable companion Galvanize at the first Meydan fixture of the campaign in early November.
That effort was over tonight’s 1,600m course and distance, as was Galvanize’s subsequent victory four weeks ago. Sam Hitchcott will be in the saddle again for Galvanize.
Salem bin Ghadayer saddles four of the 10 runners, including Mailshot, ridden by Mickael Barzalona. Bin Ghadayer was the trainer to follow last Friday at Jebel Ali where he celebrated a treble
Barzalona 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.
The trainer Bin Ghadayer’s three Jebel Ali winners were all partnered by Royston Ffrench, who is aboard Claim the Roses, second to stablemate Frankyfourfingers at Jebel Ali last week. Three of the remaining four runners are trained by Satish Seemar. Stable jockey Richard Mullen has opted to ride Secret Ambition, a 1,400m winner at Meydan a week ago.
Connor Beasley rides Parliamentarian with Antonio Fresu aboard the third Seemar runner, Speedy Move.
Assistant trainer Bhupat Seemar said: “We know Secret Ambition likes it at Meydan and looks to have a good chance in a strong race.
“We are stepping Speedy Move up in trip, which we hope will suit him and Parliamentarian is a new horse who works well on dirt, but will be racing on it for the first time.”
The race is third on the card and takes place at 7.40pm.
The action at Meydan begins at 6.30pm, with the final race at 10pm.