Dubai: Having clinched major wins during the last week, there’s a lot of promise for trainer Dhruba Selvaratnam’s runners if they can keep it going when Abu Dhabi stages prep races for the prestigious HH The President’s Cup.

Long-serving maestro of the Jebel Ali Stables, Selvaratnam saddles Yaa Wayl in the 1,400-metre thoroughbred contest following the late scratching of Jaasoos, the 2011 President’s Cup winner.

Formerly trained by Saeed Bin Surour for Godolphin, the seven-year-old son of dual Group 1 winning stallion Whipper makes his debut at the track following a string of runs at Meydan and Jebel Ali, the scene of his last triumph a month ago.

Although he was well beaten on his only subsequent start Selvaratnam’s stable jockey James Doyle offered a positive assessment of his chances.

“We are drawn ten, which is perhaps not ideal, but he is in good form at home and obviously the yard are going well,” said Doyle, the retained rider to Saudi Arabia’s Prince Khalid Abdullah during the British flat racing season.

“It has been a good ten days for the whole team and hopefully it will continue.

“HH The President’s Cup is obviously a prestigious race and one we would like to win. This prep will give us some idea of where we stand with Yaa Wayl.”

Emirati handlers Ali Rashid Al Raihe and Musabah Al Muhairi are double-handed in the race while Satish Seemar accounts for three of the 10 runners.

Al Raihe appears to have a leading chance with National Day Cup hero Nawwar, who will be ridden by Dane O’Neill, retained rider to Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance.

“He was impressive winning the National Day Cup,” said O’Neill. “He then contested a red-hot Dubai World Cup Carnival handicap and was not disgraced. We have a nice low draw so we can be positive and the trip should suit. We have to be hopeful.”

Al Raihe also saddles Alazeyab, winner of last season’s HH The President’s Cup.

Stable jockey Royston Ffrench takes the ride and said: “Obviously he goes well under these conditions and he and Nawwaar should both run well,”

The prep race for the Purebred Arabian version of HH the President’s Cup is run over 2,200m and has attracted a strong field of 15 runners.

Erwan Charpy, who trains Versac PY, winner of the Group 1 Emirates Championship over the same 2,200m course and distance in 2012 said: “He is a good horse and we are looking forward to getting him back on the course. The President’s Cup is an obvious target and we have the Emirates Championship as well as the last two rounds of the Al Maktoum Challenge at Meydan to look at.

“He will probably improve for this run but should go well.”

Last year’s Emirates Championship scorer Musharab represents Majed Al Jahouri whiile reigning UAE champion trainer Ernst Oertel saddles Skoop, who is unbeaten in three career starts.

Harry Bentley rides Musharab and said: “We won the big race here in March so conditions will suit him and he will appreciate this step back up in trip after two runs this season at 1,600m.”

Skoop will be ridden by UAE champion jockey Tadhg O’Shea, who said: “He is a lovely, young horse, hopefully with a big future. He has done nothing wrong so far but this is a different test for him against the likes of Versac PY and Musharab.

“We will find out a lot about him in this company.”