Watson ‘Taking Names’ in Dubai

Ed Marnane

Doug Watson is the trainer to follow on a tricky card at Meydan on Sunday, with Taking Names looking his best chance in Race 3, the 1600m handicap on dirt.

Owned by Sheikh Obaid Al Maktoum, he wasn’t beaten far when second to Zucchini at Jebel Ali last month, an improved effort on earlier form in the season. He remains a well-bred gelding with potential and having just his ninth career start, he’s relatively unexposed.

Taking Names, by the 2017 Dubai World Cup winner Arrogate, has gate speed, early pace and you can expect Pat Dobbs to be positive and take advantage of his low draw in gate No 2.

Top-weight Justice Protecol, trained by Ismail Mohammed, has taken well to his new environment in the UAE, winning twice at Jebel Ali since making a promising local debut behind Mayaadeen three months ago. If the Time Test gelding can transfer that form to Meydan, he will be the big threat to Taking Names under Fernando Jara.

In a wide-open looking handicap, it’s hard to rule out recent winner Hyde Park, the consistent Triple Venture and Al Maroom, who was narrowly beaten by Street Mood in a 16-runner handicap on his most recent appearance.

Racing gets under way with a 1200m maiden on turf and champion trainer Bhupat Seemar is responsible for a quarter of the field. With stable jockey Tadhg O’Shea suspended, Seemar has booked Antonio Fresu to ride Mezzotinto for prominent owner Naser Askar.

The Shamardal gelding is a long-standing maiden and extended his record to 0-11 when a close third behind Great Deed in a dirt maiden here seven days ago. He’s vulnerable switching to grass and having his fourth run in six weeks, makes no appeal.

Andrew Slattery, the 2019 Irish champion apprentice, has handful of opportunities to showcase his riding skills since arriving in the UAE last month. He has been booked by Seemar to ride Shinyar, the highest rated runner in the field with a mark of 89.

Owned by Ali Haddad, she has been on the sidelines since chasing home subsequent UAE 1000/UAE Oaks winner Shahama in a minor event on dirt at Meydan 12 months ago. The switch to turf isn’t an issue, being by Pride Of Dubai, a sire with a good record with his fillies in Europe. She’s a promising filly and if primed and ready to strike, she should go well.

Harvest Gold, the mount of the in-form Panama-born rider Oscar Chavez, has been knocking on the door since connections targeted a turf campaign in late December, hitting the frame in all four runs. The son of Golden Horn holds obvious claims in a race that won’t take much winning.

The second maiden, over 1900m on dirt, 35 minutes later, has attracted a field of 13 and Alhzeem sets the standard.

Trained at Jebel Ali racecourse by Michael Costa, he has progressed with racing this season and was narrowly denied by Green Jacket last time, just failing to catch the Bhupat Seemar’s winner.

Connections were entitled to be frustrated as Alhzeem was tardy leaving the gates and lost valuable ground. This looks a good opportunity to finally make the breakthrough at the sixth time of asking.

In a modest maiden, by Meydan standards, Arabian Gazelles can’t be ruled out on her first start since finishing a disappointing fourth behind Seyaasi two months ago. The US-bred filly, which was second in the UAE Oaks last season, had a valid excuse for her poor effort, having reported to have been lame after the race. She holds sound claims if back to her best.

Ahmad bin Harmash and his stable jockey, Ray Dawson have enjoyed a good season, especially at Meydan. The pair team up with the unexposed Vasilakos in the 2410m handicap on turf, Race 4. This well-bred colt, a brother to the ill-fated 2000 Guineas/St James Place winner Coroebus, makes his grass debut and there was plenty to like about his recent run.

He showed his lack of experience in a tough battle with the winner Grand Dubai in a handicap on dirt here but showed a good attitude and will have benefited from the experience. He is a well-bred gelding that should be equally effective on turf, and I don’t fear step up in distance will be a concern.

The withdrawal of Sari Dubai has left the 1800m handicap on turf, race 5, a weaker affair, and Perfect Love looks most likely to take advantage. The Argentinian-bred colt has been running well in defeat this winter and shaping as at the step up in distance will suit today. Unlike most his rivals, he’s a consistent and reliable.

Shock Jebel Ali winner Al Khalde has been given a stiff opening mark of 82 on his handicap debut and makes little appeal of following up switching to grass. Seven days after splitting Exciting Days and Branwell, Light Beam merits respect if Sunday’s exertions haven’t taken a toll.

His stable companion, Franz Kafka, the choice of Ray Dawson, has disappointed twice since finishing a good third behind Electrical Storm on his seasonal reappearance in December. He can’t be discounted if reproducing that solid effort behind Saeed bin Suroor-trained winner.

BEST BET

Race 1 No 2 Harvest Gold

VALUE BET

Race 5 No 1 Perfect Love

BEST SWINGER

Race 2 1-Alhzeem and 7-Al Mofty

JACKPOT

(Races 3 to 6)

R48

Leg 1: 1, 3, 9, 11

Leg 2: 3

Leg 3: 1, 2, 10

Leg 4: 2, 5, 6, 10