Dubai: Al Asayl handler Ernst Oertel has enjoyed another outstanding campaign in the UAE where he has sewn up a second consecutive trainer’s championship.
He now hopes to crown the season with a victory at Meydan on Saturday.
Oertel saddles three runners on the big night, but believes Group 1 Dubai Kahayla Classic contender Skoop, represents his best chance.
“To win a race on Dubai World Cup night will definitely be the cherry on the cake,” he said on Monday. “It has been another terrific year for us and I am very lucky to have such a good team working for me back home.
“Everything has gone well so far, now we’re looking forward to Saturday’s big race meeting.
“Skoop has run well this season with perhaps his best effort being when he was only beaten a neck in the HH The President Cup in January.”
The Abu Dhabi-based handler, who has amassed 46 wins this season, also saddles Shayel Aldhabi and Richlore in the Purebred Arabian feature and Capital Attraction in the Group 2 Godolphin Mile.
“We did not do anything special this morning, just got them to stretch their legs a bit. They’re all in good shape and ready to run. It’s important that they’re happy and enjoying it. That’s what I was looking to see,” he said after watching his stars work in the hands of champion jockey Tadhg O’Shea.
Asked to assess the chances of Capital Attraction, who is being primed for a second shot at the Godolphin Mile, a race in which he finished 10 of 15 behind Soft Falling Rain twelve months ago, the champion handler said: “It’s a very tough race but we expect him to run well.
“Besides his first start this season, he has run well particularly. These are his optimum conditions and he should run well. The draw is going to be important.”
