Dubai: Ali Rashid Al Raihe's contender for the Group One Dubai Duty Free, the five-year-old Derbaas, will be going into the contest in fine form after four straight wins.
After having won twice over a mile on the Tapeta surface at Meydan in December, he has kept up the good work at the Carnival, to break the course record in a handicap and land the well-contested Group Two Al Fahidi Fort in February, both on turf.
His win in the Al Fahidi Fort came at the expense of the clear favourite Raihana, who had won her previous race.
Last year Raihana won the Group Three UAE Oaks and she ran even better to be second behind Musir in the Group Two UAE Derby, making her tough to beat.
Vast improvement
Handled by champion trainer Al Raihe, Derbaas has been much improved this winter and his win in the Al Fahidi Fort earned him a place in the field for this year's Duty Free. This prestigious turf race is staged over 1,800 metres with the last 200 the big question mark for Derbaas. Can he be as effective over the longer trip?
Regular rider Richard Hills seems to think so.
"The Dubai Duty Free is the obvious race for him and he will certainly stay," he said.
