Dubai: Former champion trainer Erwan Charpy is hoping stable flag bearer Manark can recapture his old sparkle when he reverts to dirt to contest the Group 2 Mazrat Al Ruwayah for Purebred Arabians, the feature event at Meydan on Thursday.
The French-bred six-year-old produced a rather disappointing first-up appearance on the turf at Abu Dhabi when finishing 10th of 15 behind Kaloni in the Group 1 Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown.
Charpy expects the return to Meydan’s dirt track, where Manark posted his biggest win in the Group 1 $1 million (Dh3.67 million) Kahayla Classic in March having previously won the Group 2 Bani Yas, will be in his favour.
“He is working very well and the return to dirt is hopefully in his favour,” said Charpy, who has trained in the UAE for over 21 years. “He ran badly at Abu Dhabi last season before winning both his Meydan starts so, hopefully, he can regain the winning thread. We have to be very hopeful.”
Manark faces 11 rivals in the 1,800 metre contest, including Rb Torch, an impressive winner of the Mazrat Al Ruwayah Prep over a mile two weeks earlier, last year’s winner Af Lafeh, who represents former champion trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
Tadhg O’Shea, who has replaced Royston Ffrench as Al Raihe’s stable jockey, takes over the reins this time.
“He should run his usual solid race,” said the Irishman who has set a blistering pace in the UAE jockey’s championship with 18 wins. “It looks a strong renewal though, especially with Manark in there.”
Thursday’s card is an ideal build-up to the 2016 Dubai World Cup Carnival which starts at Meydan on January 7, as it features three Listed races, with the penultimate race on the Al Tayer Motors-sponsored card, the Garhoud Sprint over 1200 metres looking a cracker.
Rafeej, trained by reigning champion Musabah Al Muhairi, chases an unprecedented third successive victory in the race which was added to the Meydan calendar in 2013.
However, he will first have to see off the challenge of stable companion Muarrab, an eight race winner at Jebel Ali Racecourse who will ne making only his third appearance at Meydan.
Paul Hanagan and Dane O’Neil, retained riders to Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, take the rides on Muarrab and Rafeej respectively.
Commenting on the chances of Muarrab, Al Muhairi said: “He obviously loves it at Jebel Ali. But he has run well on both visits to Meydan and should do so again. I am looking forward to running him.”
O’Neill added: “Obviously he [Rafeej] has won this in each of the last two years so conditions are ideal,” said O’Neill. “He really needed his first run so should strip a lot fitter.
“I won on Muarrab at Jebel Ali three weeks ago and he gave me a great feel so he will be the one we have to beat I think.”
Trainer Satish Seemar also goes in search of a third successive victory in the Dubai Creek Mile with Gold City, the mount of Richard Mullen who has been off the track since finishing a close sixth in the Group 2 Godolphin Mile on Dubai World Cup night.
The Doug Watson-trained Layl, who finished second to Gold City in the Godolphin Mile looks to have strong claims as does Al Muhairi’s Nolohay, a handicap winner over the track and distance in February.
“This has been the plan for his return to action all along,” said Watson. “He is working well and should run a big race.”
The third Listed contest of the night, The Entisar is run over the same 2,000m as the Dubai World Cup and features Seemar’s Farrier, who bids to follow-up on his recent victory at Jebel Ali.
Also lining up is the Al Raihe-trained Haatheq, last seen on Dubai World Cup day when finishing fourth to Tamarkuz in the Godolphin Mile.
Fact box: GN Selections
Race Horse
1. 1. Manark; 2. Rb Torch.
2. 1. Gold City; 2. Nolohay.
3. 1. Piepowder Court; 2. Rich And Righteous.
4. 1. Farrier; 2. Haatheq.
5. 1. Murrab; 2. Rafeej.
6. 1. Desert Wings; 2. Marching Time.
Day’s Best: Murrab.
