POWELL’S EMERALD TIPPED TO SPARKLE
BRENDAN POWELL’S latest Middle Eastern adventure begins today when he saddles two runners on the opening night of the Dubai Carnival.
The lambourn handler, synonymous with winning the Grand national aboard rhyme ’n’ reason in 1988, enjoyed remarkable success at Meydan with Dark Emerald last year, scooping more than £183,000 as his charge progressed to Group races.
Dark Emerald’s Arabian campaign ended with defeat in the Godolphin Mile in March, but a series of excellent efforts on home turf, including in a Hamilton conditions event on his last start, is cause for optimism ahead of another stint in the UAE.
‘last year was our first trip to Dubai and I couldn’t have been happier with how it went,’ said Powell. ‘I always wanted to come here, so to have a horse capable of being competitive with the powerhouses has been brilliant.
‘Dark Emerald will probably go the same route as last year and we’ve got him in good nick. He is working great but he hasn’t been done any favours by the draw (stall 14).’
Dark Emerald contests the seven-furlong handicap and has been accompanied to Dubai by recent purchase Beach Bar, who tackles the nine-furlong handicap on dirt.
‘It is a fact-finding mission with Beach Bar,’ added Powell. ‘This trip may be a bit too far and a mile later in the Carnival may prove more his cup of tea.’
Meanwhile, Towcester racecourse chief executive Kevin Ackerman has failed to overturn a six-month suspension.
Ackerman was banned along with jockey Michael Stainton and professional gamblers David Greenwood and Kenneth Mackay after being found guilty of laying the Greenwood-owned Ad Vitam in races at Kempton and Wolverhampton.
They had become aware the horse was likely to run down the field in those 2011-12 contests.