Sharjah: Twelve months on and the Doug Watson-trained Fantastique MHF bids to win the Longines Master Collection handicap for the second successive year.
The mount of in-form rider Dane O’Neill, Fantastique MHF faces 12 Purebred Arabian rivals over the 1,700 trip including the fancied Eric Lemartinel duo of RB Rich Abratude and Rabdan.
Fantastique MHF has posted five career wins, all of which have been registered at Sharjah.
“He certainly seems to save his best for Sharjah,” said Watson. “On his day he is very useful around there. He seems in good form and can hopefully run well.”
Helal Al Alawi saddles Ahmadani who also looks a big danger having run second over this 1700m course and distance on his final start last season.
Alawi won this in 2013 with Ameer Al Sraya and his second runner, Little Miss Fanci, should appreciate the return to dirt following a disappointing effort on the Abu Dhabi turf last week.
Champion Jockey, Richard Mullen, who rides MH Areeb for trainer Elise Jeanne said: “He goes well at Sharjah. He ran well enough last week over 2000m and the drop in trip should be a positive.”
The Thoroughbred handicap at Sharjah’s second meeting of the season has been a rich source of Dubai World Cup Carnival winners with Price Is Truth winning over 1200m last year, while Storm Belt won 1700m handicaps in both 2012 and 2013.
Dhruba Selvaratnam saddles Sowaylm, the mount of stable jockey, Chris Hayes, who was a respectable sixth at Jebel Ali two weeks ago when the horse looked in need of the outing.
The Ahmad Bin Harmash duo of Exploratory and Grilletto are the only other UAE winners in the field, though neither have won on dirt.
