Forjatt the favourite for National Day Cup

Peter Ward 09:21 04/12/2016
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  • The race is the biggest of the season so far.

    Sunday evening’s renewal promises to be a cracker with Forjatt attempting to become the third dual winner in the 1600m feature which was first run in 1993.

    Emirates Gold defended his crown in 2008, as did Jaasoos in 2010 and Dhruba Selvaratnam, trainer of the latter, will be hoping Forjatt can emulate his former stable companion and provide his handler with a record sixth victory in the race.

    Also victorious in the Group 3 Jebel Ali Mile in 2014, Forjatt has been a great servant to connections since making his local debut in January 2012, winning eight times (notincluding finishing ‘first past the post’ in the 2015 Jebel Ali Mile before being disqualified after testing positive for a prohibited substance).

    Under a penalty, he was third in the National Day Cup Prep, also over 1600m, three weeks ago but Selvaratnam hopes the benefit of that outing will see him go close.

    He said: “He is an 8yo now and needed his first run, probably more than we thought he would. Obviously he has ground to make up on Championship and Shamaal Nibras, but hopefully he will go close.”

    Stable jockey, Chris Hayes, is still out of action with a wrist injury so Selvaratnam has booked Irish Champion Jockey, Pat Smullen, reuniting a partnership successful over many seasons in the past.

    Runner-up in the trial was Championship, like Forjatt, carrying a penalty on that occasion. His trainer, Ahmad bin Harmash, has been saddling plenty of winners and he looks sure to be a big threat under new stable jockey, Colm O’Donoghue.

    However, the biggest danger to Forjatt’s repeat bid could be Shamaal Nibras, impressive winner of the prep but, it must be emphasised that he received weight from both the other pair, which is not the case here.

    His trainer, Doug Watson, saddled a treble at Meydan on Thursday, two of whom were ridden by Shamaal Nibras’ jockey, Pat Dobbs, who rode three winners [two for Watson] on Thursday.

    Watson said: “Shamaal Nibras was gelded over the summer so it was very pleasing to see him win so well first time out, especially as my horses were needing their first run on the whole.

    “He is in great form and should run very well but the second and third are entitled to have improved for their seasonal debuts also.”

    It is interesting Watson mentions seasonal debuts; Cross Grain, the mount of Richard Mullen for Satish Seemar, has won first time out in all three seasons he has raced and looks a very interesting rival here.

    The main Purebred Arabian contest is the Group 3 Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup, also over 1600m and Thakif, winner in 2014, looks the one to beat.

    Trained by Majed Al Jahouri, he carries a penalty but is a genuine Group One performer who, facing just seven rivals, should be able to get to the front under Harry Bentley.

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