Ed Marnane
With less than two months before the season ends in the UAE, Champion trainer Bhupat Seemar faces a tough battle to retain his crown and will be looking to get among the winners at Meydan on Sunday to close the gap on Doug Watson, who is six clear at the top of the table.
Seemar’s best chance of getting a winner on the bumper eight-race card comes up in the 1600m handicap on turf, Race 5. Poster Paint, by Postponed, has improved with racing this season and comes on the back of a good second behind Invincibly in a handicap over this course and distance three weeks.
It could be argued Poster Paint was an unlucky loser, as the winner enjoyed an uncontested lead and was given a fine front-running ride by Francois Herholdt. Poster Paint, the mount of Tadhg O’Shea, can shrug off a minor rise in the ratings and record his first success since winning a maiden at Abu Dhabi 12 months ago.
Celtic Voyager, who began his career in South Africa, caused a massive shock when winning at this track two weeks ago, getting the better of Persian Empire in a close finish.
The Vercingetorix gelding, who was beaten 32 lengths on his seasonal reappearance, was giving rookie trainer Mohammad Mardood his first winner since taking out a licence last year. He should mount a bold bid to follow up off in the 1200m handicap on turf, Race 7.
Celtic Voyager was trained by Glen Kotzen and was a five-time winner in South Africa.
Rashed Bouresly-trained pair Abshrek and Miqyaas look obvious dangers, with marginal preference for the former on just his fourth career start.
He caught the eye when winning a maiden on his turf debut here before Christmas, showing plenty of speed and scoring with plenty in hand. He doesn’t look badly treated off 81 on his handicap debut.
Miqyaas, a winner at Sharjah in late December, returns after a short break and switches to turf, a surface he is very unexposed. His only run on grass was at Meydan in April 2019, where he finished a creditable fifth in a 16-runner 1400m maiden.
Racing gets under way with a 1600m maiden on dirt and it’s a modest contest that won’t take much winning. Many of the top UAE stables are represented and Made In Dubai, trained by Salem bin Ghadayer, makes most appeal.
He bounced back to form when a good second to Sari Dubai here last month, taking a step forward after running poorly at Jebel Ali four weeks earlier. Made In Dubai has the services of top French rider Mikael Barzalona, a rider operating at 17.5% strike-rate at Meydan who has created a big impression with his riding skills on dirt at Meydan this season. Made In Dubai can finally make the breakthrough at the tenth attempt.
Thirty-five minutes later five three-year-olds go to post for the second maiden, over 1400m on dirt. In a poor race, Habooba gets a tentative vote for trainer Ahmad bin Harmash.
The US-bred filly, by Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, an exciting young sire, has shown ability in two starts, the most recent when fifth behind Tiger Nation at Jebel Ali. The winner gave the form a major boost when winning next time at Meydan and is one of the leading fancies for next week’s UAE 2000 Guineas.
Race 4, the 1900m conditions race for three-year-olds, has attracted a small field of seven. This looks a good opportunity for the consistent Go Soldier Go to open his account. Trained by Fawzi Nass, he has run well in defeat in all three appearances and is proven under the conditions. He made eye-catching late headway to finish second behind Lahresh 10 days ago, a solid effort in a decent contest. The application of first-time visor will help; the headgear should sharpen up the Tapiture colt as he has been slowly away in his races.
Doug Watson holds a strong hand in the 1900m handicap on turf, Race 6. He is responsible for a quarter of the field, with recent winners Qareeb and Sari Dubai, the choice of stable jockey Pat Dobbs.
The Creative Cause gelding showed improved form switching to turf following a series of near misses on dirt, winning a 1600m maiden here last month. He looks on a workable mark on his handicap debut and can follow up.
Earlier on the card, the 1800m handicap on turf has drawn a full field of 14 and there is no shortage of exposed handicappers in the line-up. The well-bred Sharar, a half-brother to US champion mare Lady Eli, makes his handicap debut and looks attractively handicapped off 81 taking on his elders for the first time.
There was plenty to like about his staying-on second to his stable companion Legend Of Cannes last month, his first run on turf. He looks a major player and is fancied to go close.
BEST BET
Race 5 No 5 Poster Paint
VALUE BET
Race 7 No 6 Abshrek
BEST SWINGER
Race 5: 5-Poster Paint and 7-Gareth
JACKPOT
(Races 5-8)
R72
Leg 1: 5, 7
Leg 2: 1, 6, 7, 10
Leg 3: 1, 6, 10
Leg 4: 2, 7, 11