Gelded Perregrin can show continued improvement
Dubai - Doug Watson and Satish Seemar are locked at the top of the trainers’ table with 25 wins, nine clear of South African trainer Ernst Oertel, the reigning champion.
Watson, chasing a seventh UAE title, has found Meydan a very happy hunting ground this season and returns to Dubai’s flagship track with a big team for today’s card, saddling nine runners in five of the six races.
In the opening maiden, over 1400m on dirt, Watson runs the frustrating Dark Thunder, who extended his record to 0-15 when second to Al Battar on turf here four weeks ago. Dark Thunder doesn’t really appeal switching to dirt from a poor draw in the hands of Pat Dobbs, the leading rider at Meydan this season.
Former champion Seemar, who saddles 18 runners across six races on the afternoon, runs five in the race and the onceraced Leadership (Richard Mullen) has the strongest credentials. A bargain £5,200 (R100,00) purchase when sold by Godolphin at Ascot in July last year, he made an encouraging start on his racecourse debut at Jebel Ali.
Ridden by Tadhg O’Shea, the Raven’s Pass gelding kept on nicely in the closing stages to chase home Rayig, showing a good attitude. He should improve for the experience, and if transferring that form to Meydan, he should go close under stable jockey Richard Mullen.
Later on the card Mullen and Seemar team up with the consistent and reliable Dolmen in the last race, the 1800m handicap on turf. Winner of a valuable handicap at Sharjah at Christmas, he bumped into an unexposed type on his handicap debut on his latest appearance, over today’s course two weeks ago.
He’s been done no favours with the draw, jumping from stall No 16, but is fancied to put up a bold show.
Al Battar, by Dubawi, won a maiden on his Meydan turf debut in good style, staying on strongly to beat Dark Thunder and 14 others, and rates the chief threat. He lost little in defeat on his handicap debut behind Craving, a performance that deserves to be marked up as he was drawn out wide, always a negative round the tight turns of Abu Dhabi.
Race 3. the first handicap, of the meeting, over 2000m on dirt, is trappy event with most of the field bang out of form. It looks a good opportunity for the progressive Antimo to complete a hat-trick of wins following a couple of wins at Al Ain. Antimo struggled badly on his previous runs on dirt at Meydan, and that slightly tempers enthusiasm.
Thirty-five minutes later Satish Seemar is mob-handed in the 1200m handicap on turf, responsible for four of the 16 runners.
Speedy Move, second behind shock winner Tashweeq, has been knocking on the door since returning from his summer break and won’t be far away under apprentice Sean Kirrane.
Jim Crowley-ridden Alkaamel, one of five Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned runners, has run well in defeat for local handler Musabbeh Al Mheiri since leaving William Haggas.
He should appreciate the switch to turf and has leading claims of opening his UAE account at the third time of asking.
Recent winners Mayaadeen and Craving, representing the in-form Simon Crisford, are leading players in an open-looking Race 5, 1600m handicap on dirt, at Meydan today.
Mayaadeen, trained by Doug Watson, snapped a lengthy losing run going back to July 2018 when winning a 16-runner handicap at this course. He’s relatively unexposed on dirt, and warrants respect.
Craving was delivered fast and late to prevail in a bunch finish at Abu Dhabi, the five-yearold’s first outing of the season. He needs to take step forward again to defy a career high mark reverting to dirt.
Knockacullion is an interesting runner on his local and dirt debut for new trainer Ahmad bin Harmash.
He’s bred for the underfoot conditions being a son of top US dirt performer Bernardini, and brother to Grade 1 dirt winner Dame Dorothy.
He was an expensive purchase at Tattersalls Horse-in-Training Sale in October and impressed when scoring on the All-Weather at Southwell on his final run for former trainer Richard Hughes.
The unexposed Gaudi, not beaten far in two runs at Meydan this season, completes the shortlist. He has a good draw and the application of a firsttime visor could trigger further improvement.
Best Bet: Race 6 No 11 Dolmen Best Value: Race 2 No 3 Al Mukhtar Star
Best Swinger: Race 5 No 14 Gaudi and 11 Mayaadeen
BiPot (Races 1 to 6) R48
Leg 1: 13, 14
Leg 2: 6
Leg 3: 8, 9, 11 Leg 4: 2, 5
Leg 5: 11, 14
Leg 6: 6, 11
Jackpot (Races 3 to 6) R64
Leg 1: 8, 9, 11, 13 Leg 2: 2, 5
Leg 3: 3, 9, 11, 14 Leg 4: 6, 11