All eyes to be on Mizzna as mare makes return

Abu Dhabi: Mizzna, one of the UAE's most popular champion mares, is back in action after almost a year away.

Mizzna, the daughter of another great champion Alanudd, is the favourite to win today's prep race for the National Day Cup, a race she won on her last start exactly a year ago.

The 2008 Kahayla Classic winner then missed the chance to defend her title on Dubai World Cup night after being sidelined with a chipped bone. But trainer Eric Lemartinel has since brought her back for a few big Group 1 races this season.

Mizzna, who is unbeaten in her last six starts, will surely make it seven tonight if she is race-fit and it is her display tonight that holds the key to the fortunes of many of her challengers in this season's Purebred Arabian racing.

Stablemate Shadiyda, also in the yellow and green silks of Mizzna's owner Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and Rod Simpson's Time Out will be waiting to make the most of a slip up by the favourite.

The National Day Cup prep race for thoroughbreds has attracted a strong field of ten runners with Eddie Jock, a former Carnival winner from Satish Seemar's yard likely to garner a lot of support from Pick Six followers.

Dhruba Selvaratnam's Seihali and Ali Rashid Al Raihe's Fathayer represent stables that have already shown early form making this mile's contest an interesting affair.

Four other races, all for Purebred Arabians complete the card of six with Elmalak Elwaheed from Rod Simpson's yard looking hot in the Yas Island Handicap.