Sport | Horse Racing

Double bill turf debut Presvis tries tapeta

Front House and Crowded House vie for nine-furlong Group 3 Al Rashidiya crown

  • By David Harrison, Racing Correspondent
  • Published: 00:00 February 4, 2010
  • XPRESS

  • Image Credit: xpress/virendra saklani
  • Presvis, seen here winning on turf at Nad Al Sheba a year ago, takes his chance on Tapeta over the World Cup distance tomorrow

DUBAI : It is the first of three Dubai International Racing Carnival double-headers at Meydan.

The first turf races on the new course will take place tonight with the feature being the Group 3 Al Rashidiya, over the same 9f trip as the Dubai Duty Free on World Cup night.

Mike De Kock can boast three wins in the race and has a strong hand with Front House, the winner of last year's Dubai City of Gold joined in the line-up by Frozen Fire.

Winner of the 2008 Irish Derby, he will be having his first start for De Kock who said: "He has been pleasing us since we have had him and hopefully he can go well. Front House is a nice mare, proven in Dubai and also capable of a bold run."

Godolphin rely on Alexandros, third in last year's Dubai Duty Free and second in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury. He has to be feared though it is interesting that trainer Saeed Bin Surour won three of the first four editions of the race - but none since then.

However, arguably the most interesting runner is Crowded House, winner of the 2008 Racing Post Trophy for Brian Meehan and only raced twice last year. He was a close eighth in the Dante and far from disgraced in the Epsom Derby.

DUBAI : Friday's feature is also on turf and the Group 3 Cape Verdi, for fillies and mares over a mile. It would appear to revolve around the Mike De Kock-trained Zirconeum of whom the trainer has high hopes.

A Group 1 winner in South Africa, she has to give weight all round but may well prove up to the task. Marco Botti's Soneva would appear the main danger on official ratings.

The evening also sees the return to racecourse action of Presvis, a Group 1 winner in Hong Kong last year after two Carnival wins and a closing second in the Dubai Duty Free on World Cup night.

He will face only two in a 10-furlong Tapeta handicap, the same course and distance as the Dubai World Cup. Assistant trainer Charlie Henson explained: "We need to try him on the surface in a race and this looked the ideal occasion." DH

Racing this week

Today

Meydan - first race 6.35pm, featuring the Al Rashidiya (Group 3) at 9.40pm

Tomorrow

Meydan - first race 6.40pm, featuring the Cape Verdi (Group 3) at 9.45pm

SUNDAY

Abu Dhabi - first race 5pm, featuring HH The President's Cup (Group 1) at 7pm

Nirwan and jarnin contest Dh1m race

Sunday's Group 1 11-furlong Dh1m HH The President's Cup at Abu Dhabi looks a match between Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, and Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, with three runners apiece in the Purebred Arabian showpiece. Nirwan is the selection of Richard Hills for the latter, while Jarnin could be best for the former. Rod Simpson's Time Out is another to consider and the trainer brings his 2009 Kahayla Classic winner Fryvolous back to the racecourse in the Group 3 Al Ruwais on the same card. DH

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