Basateen leads carnival hopefuls in 2400m handicap
ABUDHABI: Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club stages its penultimate meeting of 2018 on Sunday, officially highlighted by the Abu Dhabi Championship (PA Listed), but also featuring a quality 2400m handicap, the only Thoroughbred contest on the six race card and containing a handful of Dubai World Cup Carnival aspirants.
Heading the weights with an official handicap rating of 98 is Basateen, one of two genuine carnival horses trained by Doug Watson among the ten declarations.
A Carnival winner over 2000m on the Meydan turf, he has arguably achieved more in defeat, probably most noticeably when fifth in this year’s Group 3 Singspiel Stakes.
On that occasion, he was beaten 3½ lengths by Benbatl, subsequently a Group 1 winner three times and most recently beaten by the history-making Winx in the Cox Plate (G1) Stable companion Empoli, a Group 1 winner way back in September 2014, scored for the first time since when successful in a 2200m Abu Dhabi handicap last November.
He is the choice of Pat Dobbs, who rides him for just the second time since that victory in the capital almost 13 months ago.
An 8-year-old gelding by Halling, he was then second in this corresponding race last year, but subsequently enjoyed little fortune in three carnival outings at Meydan or back at Abu Dhabi in the 2200m Abu Dhabi Championship (G3).
Watson said: “We have taken the headgear off Basateen, who threw away any chance with a slow start, at Abu Dhabi, over 1600m on his reappearance and only outing this season.
“He did well to finish as close as he did and will appreciate the longer trip and is in great form at home. Empoli showed last year he likes it at Abu Dhabi and is capable of running well fresh so
we are hoping he can produce a big run but it does look a strong field.”
Sam Hitchcott partners Basateen for Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum because Dane O’neill, retained by the owner, has opted to ride Mudaarab for Erwan Charpy. A 4-year-old gelding by Distorted Humor, he won twice in England for Sir Michael Stoute, but is seeking a first local victory on his sixth UAE outing.