Dubai: Happy Dubai, one of the stars of the 2011 Dubai International Racing Carnival, takes on the best sprinters in Singapore and Hong Kong as he bids to spring a surprise in today's KrisFlyer International Sprint at Kranji.
Trained by two-time UAE champion Ali Rashid Al Raihe, Happy Dubai finished in midfield behind JJ The Jet Plane in the Group 2 Al Quoz Sprint over 1,000 metres on his last start. Prior to that he scored three times at the Carnival.
Al Raihe accepts that his horse faces a big challenge today but is confident that he will run a big race.
"He's a very genuine horse who gives his very best in races," said the Emirati trainer. "Obviously this race is a big test for him with so many good sprinters in the race, but my horse will run well. With a little luck, he can spring a surprise."|
Meanwhile, Singapore will be hoping it will be third time lucky for their champion sprinter Rocket Man who takes on two horses that have beaten him in the past two years.
Hong Kong sprinter Green Birdie beat him last year while Sacred Kingdom scored in 2009. Both winners return for today's race.
Rocket Man scored his first International Group 1 victory when he landed the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen at Meydan and has maintained his superb form on his return to Singapore where he captured his third straight Group 1 Lion City Cup over 1,200 metres on May 1.
Trained by Michael Freedman, Better Be The One also raced in Dubai in March where he finished third to J J The Jet Plane and War Artist in the Al Quoz Sprint before returning to Singapore, to run second to Rocket Man in the Lion City Cup.
Today's meeting will also feature the $3 million Group 1 Singapore Airlines International Cup.
