Sport | Horse Racing
All eyes on Star Crowned
Trainer Rashed Bouresly will prep top sprinter Star Crowned in the Dh120,000 Shadwell Farm Conditions race at Jebel Ali this afternoon ahead of a possible tilt in the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin next Sunday.
- By Leslie Wilson Jr, Sports Editor
- Published: 23:35 December 4, 2008
- Star Crowned won at the Jebel Ali Racecourse two weeks ago, and returns to action today, hoping to book a ticket to Sha Tin racecourse in Hong Kong where he will contest the Hong Kong Mile which is one of the four Group 1 international races on the card.
- Image Credit: Gulf News file
Dubai: Trainer Rashed Bouresly will prep top sprinter Star Crowned in the Dh120,000 Shadwell Farm Conditions race at Jebel Ali this afternoon ahead of a possible tilt in the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin next Sunday.
Star Crowned, who was a winner at this course two weeks ago takes on seven rivals including home-trained Mandobi, who was a fast finish third on that occasion.
However, Star Crowned has to tackle an extra two furlongs today as he steps up to a mile, the same distance of the Hong Kong sprint.
Bouresly reported that the five-year-old son of King Mambo was in top condition ahead of today's prep race.
"He needed his last race but it was a good effort," said the trainer, who also heads the Bouresly Racing Syndicate, owners of Star Crowned.
"Obviously we expect him to improve for that race. He's a nice progressive horse who has encouraged us to look at international races like the one in Hong Kong later this month.
"He's one of the best horses in the stable so we are hoping he can win some nice races for us this season."
Last May Star Crowned finished an impressive fifth behind Australian speedball Takeover Target in the Group 1 KrisFlyer International Sprint in Singapore. Prior to that race he ran a creditable third to Benny The Bull in the $2million Dubai Golden Shaheen on Dubai World Cup night in March this year.
While Bouresly will be hoping that his star continues to show good form ahead of his Hong Kong assignment, trainer Dhruba Selvaratnam will be aiming for a double at his 'backyard.'
Selvaratnam scored a treble on the course a fortnight ago and two of his winners on that occasion, Chun Tosaigh and Mannjal, return to action today.
Chun Tosaigh drops to 1,000 metres in a 50-65 handicap where he faces eight rivals including Adi Selvaratnam's Secret Place.
Mannjal shoulders top weight as he bids to score back-to-back victories in a 11-runner handicap over 1,400 metres.
Jockey William Buick who rides both horses said: "Mannjal did exceptionally well to win because we did not enjoy a clear passage at all.
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