Adrenaline rush can spur on Happy Dubai

Dubai: Trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe is hoping that his big sprint hope Happy Dubai can benefit from the adrenaline rush at Meydan and run a scorcher in the $1 million (Dh3.678 million) Al Quoz Sprint.

While expressing concern about how the four-year-old colt will handle the Mardi Gras atmosphere on Saturday the Emirati trainer said on the contrary he hopes it will spur Happy Dubai.

"He's still a baby and has not yet been exposed to the kind of atmosphere that I expect at Meydan," Al Raihe told Gulf News.

"But he's a horse with a good attitude and I'm hoping that he will in fact enjoy it and I'm hoping that it will put him in the right mood to run his best race.

"It's only over five furlongs and there will be no margin for mistakes.

Impressive record

"I would like to see him break well, get into a good position and lead turning for home. If he's in that position, he would have some sort of a chance.

"I don't think the winner of the Al Quoz will come from off the pace."

Happy Dubai became the first horse to score three wins at the 2011 Dubai International Racing Carnival when winning the trial for the Al Quoz Sprint on the Super Thursday card on March 3.

On that occasion, he raced in mid-division before being ridden to the lead by stable jockey Royston Ffrench 400 metres from home. Though the Water Swinburn-trained Monsieur Joe ran on well in the final furlong, Happy Dubai held his own to win by half a length.

"He will face better horses than he did that day on Saturday, so I would like to see him race closer to the pace," said Al Raihe, who also saddles Derbaas in the Dubai Duty Free, Mufarrh in the Godolphin Mile and Al Shemali in the Dubai Sheema Classic.

Asked which of the quartet represents his best chance on the night, Al Raihe said: "All of them have equal chances. I don't think any one of them has a better chance than the other.

"I will be happy if they all run their races, and if we get lucky, I'll still be happy."