Dubai: Sharjah Equestrian & Racing Club will host the first of six scheduled race meetings for the 2014-2015 season on Saturday.
The six-race card features five races for Purebred Arabians and an attractive-looking 2,000m handicap for thoroughbreds.
Twelve runners go to post in the event sponsored by Sharjah Police Headquarters, with former champion trainer Doug Watson appearing to have two leading chances in Dr Faustus and Diwaan.
Stable jockey Pat Dobbs has opted to ride the latter, with Sam Hitchcott taking the ride on Dr Faustus.
Commenting on the chances of his runners, Watson told the ERA website: “They are both in good form at home. Dr Faustus tends to need his first run back but this is probably the weakest race he has contested for us. It will be his first try at Sharjah so it will be interesting to see how he gets on.
“Dobbsy has elected to ride Diwaan, knowing Dr Faustus tends to improve for the outing, but it would have been a tough choice.
“Diwaan has had a lot less racing and showed plenty of ability last season. He has had a few problems but seems to be over them now and will hopefully run a big race.”
Satish Seemar has entered three horses including Shihab, the choice of stable jockey Richard Mullen, On War (Marc Monaghan) and Slew De Beaune (Jose Santiago).
Dhruba Selvaratnam, who went winless at Sharjah last season, runs Momaris, who will be partnered by new stable jockey Oisin Murphy, who will ride the track for the first time on Saturday.
The most interesting of the five Arabian races is a 2,000m contest sponsored by the Government of Sharjah Directorate of Public Works.
Once again Watson looks to have strong claims with Fantastique MHF, a two-time winner at the course.
Watson said: “He handles the Sharjah surface well and has been pleasing us in his work. This looks a weaker race than many he has run in so hopefully he will be competitive.”
Bedayer Al Asayl represents Ernst Oertel, the most successful trainer at Sharjah last season with nine winners. He will be ridden by champion jockey Tadhg O’Shea, who was successful on 10 occasions at the track last term.
