Dubai: Doug Watson continued his strong march towards a possible fourth UAE trainer’s title when saddling two more winners at Meydan on Saturday, a night on which jockey Paul Hanagan gloriously booted home four winners.
The former Ohio-native, who took over operations at the Red in 2004, currently leads the championship table with 38 winners and given the red-hot form that his runners have been all season, he looks to be the leading contender to be crowned champion in four weeks time.
One of Watson’s two winners of the evening was Jeeraan, the second of a quartet of winners for leading owner Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance.
Hanagan was on board all four of them for his retaining owner, including the impressive Almoonqith in the featured Group 3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy over 2,800 metres, a race that is a recognised prep for the Dubai Gold Cup on Dubai World Cup.
Trained in South Africa by Mike de Kock, the five-year-old son of Dynaformer was stepping up in distance, following four appearance over distances from a mile to 2,000m, But the extra four furlongs did not pose any problems to Almoonqith, who announced himself as legitimate contender for the Gold Cup, when crossing the line 1 3/4length clear of Rio Tigre and breaking the track record in the process.
“It has been an amazing evening,” said Hanagan. “To ride four winners for Shaikh Hamdan anywhere is brilliant but to do it here at Meydan on the world stage is extra special.
“We were pretty sure Almoonqith was going to stay the distance it was just a case whether or not he was good enough. As it transpired I was always happy and that was a big performance.”
Earlier, Hanagan won the opening 1600m dirt handicap on board the Musabah Al Muhairi-trained Nolohay. “We were drawn widest of all but I was keen to get to the front and I was able to get across to the rail,” said Hanagan. “I wanted to be positive as we know he stays further.
“Obviously we were out of any kick back and he has handled the surface really well and skipped over it.
“It was a good performance and a great start to the evening.”
Jeeran was winning the only none Dubai World Cup Carnival race on the card and Watson commented: “He is still improving and has a great attitude. We hope he will be a Dubai World Cup Carnival horse next season and he goes really well on dirt.”
Watson completed a double when stable jockey Pat Dobbs steered Henry Clay to win the 2000m dirt handicap from Irish raider Tenor.
“Pat has given him a great ride,” said Watson. “He is a very tough horse as he has shown throughout the season and once in front he is not easy to get past.”
Meanwhile, the highly regarded Heavy Metal, winner of the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Glorious Goodwood as a juvenile in 2012 when previously trained in England by Mark Johnston, relished the switch to dirt to score a compelling victory under former Dubai World Cup-winning rider Mickael Barzalona.
The winner was trained by Salem Bin Ghadayer whose retained rider Barzalona said: “They went very quick. He responded well when I asked and stayed on strongly.”
The meeting concluded with a 2000m turf handicap, with Haafaguinea and William Buick overcoming stable companion Silent Bullet.
Both horses are trained by leading Carnival handler Saeed Bin Surour. The next event at Meydan Racecourse this season is next week’s Super Saturday fixture, followed by the world’s richest race meeting, Dubai World Cup night three weeks later.
