All eyes on Active Spirit as World Cup looms
dubai — Dubai World Cup — the world’s richest race day is barely two weeks away, and all eyes will be on Meydan Racecourse this Thursday as the penultimate meeting of the season gets underway.
On the agenda is a seven race card, all on the dirt surface, highlighted by a valuable 1,600m handicap, the IPIC Trophy, for which 15 have been declared, including the Doug Watson-trained Active Spirit.
The six year old landed his first win of the season a fortnight ago at Meydan in a 2,000m handicap under Sam Hitchcott.
This was a return to winning ways for the Red Stables resident who had two impressive wins last season at Meydan, including over course and distance. Stable jockey Pat Dobbs, aboard for both of last season’s victories, takes over in the saddle.
“He has come out of that last race in great shape,” said Watson. “The draw has been kind so, hopefully, he will produce a big run and he is a course and distance winner
The draw has been kind so, hopefully, he (Active Spirit) will produce a big run Dough Watson, trainer
so the shorter trip should not be a concern.” Tadhg O’Shea rides Shawaahid, making his dirt debut, in just his fourth start since joining Ali Rashid Al Rayhi. The four-year-old owned by Khalifa Al Nabooda has run well on each of his three local outings, his most recent win coming last year over slightly further, on the all-weather in England.
Two other factors make him a key contender, firstly he is well drawn and secondly he has been working on this surface daily.
“He seems to handle the surface in the mornings so hopefully will under race conditions but you never know until you try,” said O’Shea. “His form is good and he has been working well so, if conditions do not catch him out, he should be thereabouts in a competitive race.”
In his role as first jockey to Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance; Jim Crowley had the choice of Nolohay and Munaaser, electing to partner the latter for Al Rayhi.
The Sheikh Hamdan owned six year old has just one local victory to his name, which came on his UAE debut in a 2,000m dirt handicap on the second night of last year’s Dubai World Cup Carnival.
Dane O’Neill, also retained by Sheikh Hamdan, partners Nolohay, one of two in the race for Maria Ritchie, who celebrated her first winner with AF Ssayeb at Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
Two more offerings from the Oasis stables can be seen in action in the equally valuable 1,200m handicap, the Borealis, An IPIC Group Company. The first is Druid’s Ridge ridden by Fernando Jara and Ajraam ridden by Dane O’Neill.