On The Warpath to victory

Ed Marnane

The Graduate Stakes, restricted to horses sold at the last three Racing in Dubai Sales, headlines the seven-race card, all on dirt, at Meydan on Friday.

Run over 1400m, a small but decent field has been assembled, with three of the eight horses rated 99 and above.

On The Warpath, trained by Musabbeh Al Mheiri, carries a hefty 62kg and concedes weight to all his rivals on his seasonal reappearance. He ran admirably last season, most notably when a good third behind the smart sprinter Al Tariq in the Dubawi Stakes (Group 3) over a trip arguably short of his optimum distance. He should appreciate the drop in grade and is fancied to make a successful comeback.

Island Rule, the mount of Ray Dawson, is fancied to emerge the chief threat on his second run of the campaign. By No Nay Never, he made a respectable return behind Raaeb two weeks ago and would be sharper for the run. The winner looked an exciting prospect for the rest of the season when powering clear in the closing stages on his dirt debut for new connections.

The 100-rated Royal Mews, trained by Bhupat Seemar, can’t be ignored on his first start of the season. He caused a shock on his local and dirt debut here in February, readily quickening clear of Celtic Price and Godolphin’s 100-rated Desert Peace to score in good style. If ready to strike returning from a 241-day break, he warrants respect under Tadhg O’Shea.

Seemar and O’Shea team up with the once-raced Alsahib in Race 3, a 1400m juvenile maiden. He caught the eye on his debut here earlier in the month, making late progress from mid-division to finish fifth, beaten less than four lengths. The US-bred son of Mastery should enjoy stepping up in distance and will be hard to beat.

Race 4, the second maiden on the card, looks a competitive affair. The lightly-raced Emdakham, trained by Al Mheiri, will be popular despite his lengthy layoff. He wasn’t beaten far when second to Al Maroom at Meydan 12 months ago, and can play a leading role if primed after his break.

Black Mark, the mount of Richard Mullen, won’t lack for fitness on his fourth run of the campaign. He has produced three solid efforts since returning from his summer break, the most recent when a close fourth behind Long Kiss over today’s course and distance.

Riding arrangements suggest Sari Dubai is Doug Watson’s main hope with Pat Dobbs in the saddle on this Creative Cause colt. He appeared to need his comeback behind shock winner Road Bloc, travelling kindly until lack of fitness told in the closing stages. He hails from a yard firing on all cylinders, and is one to consider.

Of the others, Made In Dubai makes most appeal. Trained by Salem bin Ghadayer, he wasn’t beaten far in a handicap won by Falsehood, and should appreciate dropping into maiden company.

Al Mheiri’s Vasari rates the best bet on the card in Race 5, a 1200m handicap. A winner over the course and distance on his seasonal reappearance 12 months ago, he made an encouraging comeback this season behind the impressive Upper Class.

He was entitled to need the run and with normal improvement, can take his tally in the UAE to two. Vasari will enjoy the expected strong pace, with confirmed front-runners El Baareq and Meshakel in the line-up.

Shadwell’s Mutaraffa, Vasari’s stable companion, is attractively handicapped on his first outing of the season, racing off a lower mark on dirt compared to his turf rating. He’s a useful sprinter, unexposed on dirt and has the assistance of the in-form Dane O’Neill, a rider operating at an impressive 19% strike-rate this season in the UAE.

Watson holds a strong hand in Race 6, a 2200m handicap. Responsible for five of the 12 runners, he is represented by recent Meydan winners Al Nayyir and Qareeb. The pair look vulnerable off their revised ratings, and in a wide-open looking contest the Shadwell-owned Karnavaal, trained by Watson, gets the vote.

There was a lot to like about his comeback behind Al Nayyir, his first start for Watson. By Dubawi, he is entitled to step forward for the run.

Racing closes with a 1600m handicap where Western Symphony, a wide margin winner here two weeks ago, has sound claims of following up for champion trainer Seemar in the silks of Al Rashid Stables, the leading owners this season.

Western Symphony was hammered by the handicapper for the facile win, but he will take plenty of stopping under O’Shea. He is very unexposed and open to further of improvement, unlike most of his rivals.

BEST BET

Race 5 No 6 Vasari

BEST VALUE

Race 6 No 1 Karnavaal

BEST SWINGER

Race 2 1-On The Warpath and 3-Island Rule

JACKPOT

Races 4 to 7

R48

Leg 1: 6, 9, 12

Leg 2: 6

Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 9

Leg 4: 1, 3, 6, 7