Dubai: South African handler Mike de Kock is looking to continue his domination of the Group 2 Al Rashidiya at Meydan on Thursday night, but a sextet of British-trained horses will be out to spoil his party at Meydan on Thursday night.
De Kock has won the 1800 metre turf contest seven times in the past, including over the last four years and is this year represented by 2015 Cape Derby (G1) winner Ertijaal, Mujaarib, who won the race two years ago, and the emerging talent and recent Meydan victor Forries Waltz.
Such is the popularity of the race, which together with the Jebel Hatta [G1, March 5] acts as a useful build-up to the $6 million (Dh22 million) Dubai Turf (G1) on Dubai World Cup day, that a field of 14 horses will line up to face Meydan’s official starter Shane Ryan at 8.45pm tonight.
Among them are the classy British raiders Big Baz, trained in Lambourn by William Muir, Bossy Guest, former England footballer Mick Channon’s hope, David Simcock’s Calling Out, the Michael Attwater-trained El Tren, Marco Botti’s Moohaarib and Battle Of Marathon who is trained by John Ryan.
The pick of the home-trained gallopers is Limaro, who is trained by the UAE’s leading trainer this season, Doug Watson.
Mujaarib is bidding to bounce back from a third-place effort in the Listed Singspiel Stakes over course and distance, and become the first horse to win the race twice since it’s inception in 2000.
Although he has been overlooked by Paul Hanagan, first jockey to owner Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, de Kock is confident of a big run, as he is with his two other charges.
“Mujaarib is in much better shape than he was last year and we were pleased with his first run,” said the South African. “With that under his belt he should be competitive. It is a step up in class for Forries Waltz, but he deserves his chance in this company.
“It was a very competitive handicap he won two weeks ago and the extra 200m should not be a problem.
“Ertijaal is a class performer, but returning off a long break. He will definitely improve for the run and we hope he is a Super Saturday or Dubai World Cup-night horse, but I cannot really split my three as the other pair are race fit.
“We expect all three to run big races in a contest where we have traditionally done well.”
William Muir must fancy the chances of Big Baz who registered the biggest victory of his career when comfortably annexing the Listed Hyde Stakes (All-Weather Championship Fast-Track Qualifier) at Lingfield in November.
A progressive son of Pivotal, Big Baz was only just beaten in the closing stages on his Meydan debut earlier this month and will strip a lot fitter for that run.
Earnshaw made a promising start to his career in France when winning his first two races for Andre Fabre in the Godolphin colours.
After being switched to Salem Bin Ghadayer’s Fazza Racing Stable at the end of 2014 he produced a noteworthy first effort to finish third, a length behind Safety Check and Dark Emerald in the Group 2 Zabeel Mile at Meydan last February.
He ran decidedly one-paced on his most recent start, but that performance is best overlooked as he is a horse capable of much more.
Thursday’s fourth Dubai World Cup Carnival meeting also features three other races on turf and two on the dirt track.
GN Selections
Race Horse
1. 1. State Law; 2. Stunned,
2. 1. Divine; 2. Jamesie.
3. 1. Krypton Factor; 2. My Catch 2.
4. 1. Mujaarib; 2. Ertijaal.
5. 1. Flash Fire; 2. Anaerobio.
6. 1. Mutamakkin; 2. Beach Bar.
Day’s Best: Flash Fire.
