Fresh from a Meydan double on Thursday, including a first Classic winner courtesy of Polar River in the UAE 1000 Guineas, former champion trainer Doug Watson, who leads the current trainers’ championship, has no less than 15 runners at Saturday’s Meydan meeting, a domestic (non-Carnival) affair.
With 37 winners to his credit already after Thursday’s meeting, seven more than closer pursuer Ali Rashid Al Raihe, Watson is enjoying a fantastic season and will be confident of adding to his tally on Saturday.
He may only have to wait until the second race when he saddles Stunned in a 1200m dirt handicap. Second on his local debut at Jebel Ali, he has since twice finished third over 1400m, once back at Jebel Ali and most recently at Meydan. Reverting to 1200m looks likely to suit and he only faces six rivals under Pat Dobbs.
Mutasayyid from the @rhannonracing yard, who had a cracking mention from Doug Watson runs tomorrow in the fourth at Meydan. Excited.
— Al Maktoum Race Club (@AlMaktoumRacing) February 12, 2016
Watson said: “This looks a good opportunity for him and the horses continue in great form.”
The Al Raihe-trained Mutahaddith, the mount of Tadhg O’Shea and the talented, but fragile, Glenleven, with Richard Mullen riding for Satish Seemar, look the main dangers.
The two turf handicaps appear ultra competitive with the 1600m one attracting a full field of 14. Again Dobbs and Watson, who saddles four in the race, appear to hold a major chance, this time with Charlie Croker.
Winner of a similar race, over 1200m, on his penultimate start, he lost little in defeat last time when second over 1400m, also on the Meydan turf. He was staying on well then, behind an unexposed rival and the extra 200m should suit him on that evidence.
Dobbs said: “He has been in good form and the quick surface at Meydan has really suited him. We have a nice low draw so he should run another big race in a competitive heat.”
Al Raihe and O’Shea again appear to provide one of the main dangers in 1600m, courtesy of Need To Know, runner-up on both his most recent starts on the Meydan turf.
Should he get in the field, first reserve, Cross Grain would be a very interesting contender on what would be only his sixth career start and turf debut. He is trained by Satish Semar.
Watson was not the only trainer to saddle his first UAE Classic winner on Thursday with Dhruba Selvaratnam repeating the trick. He combined with stable jockey Chris Hayes to win the UAE 2000 Guineas and their Roossey looks to hold serious claims in the 1200m turf handicap.
Runner-up on his two most recent starts, he was caught right on the line over this course and distance by the aforementioned Charlie Croker who could well advertise the form two races earlier. Sheikh Hamdan provides five of the 12 runners with Hanagan aboard Banaadeer and O’Neill riding Greeb, both trained by Watson.
