Mourilyan deserves to take his chance in Group 2 Sheema Classic

Dubai: Mourilyan, trained in Ireland by John Oxx for the Aga Khan, has been one of the success stories of this year's Dubai International Racing Carnival.

The rapidly-improving four-year-old recorded two wins in handicap class before a dramatic stretch run narrowly failed to get him up in the Group 3 Dubai City of Gold on his latest start. That run has persuaded connections to run him in the Dubai Sheema Classic, sponsored by Nakheel.

Assistant trainer Jimmy O'Neill was aboard this morning, breaking from the mile post, before upping the tempo over the final five furlong of the Nad Al Sheba turf track.

Afterwards he expressed his happiness with his improving performer, "He's been taking his races well, and he's been thriving since he's been out here in Dubai, eating well and doing everything right.

"He was upped into Group 3 company last time, and he did nothing wrong, so we decided to accept the invitation to run in the Group 1 on Saturday. It's a step up again, but he deserves to take his chance.

"That will be his final piece of work before Saturday, we'll just keep him ticking over between now and race day."

Accompanied to the track by a pony, five-time Grade 1 winner Better Talk Now was guided through his first gallop on the dirt surface by exercise rider Fenella O'Flynn, who also had ridden him during gallops on the training track over the weekend.

"It was good - very good," said O'Flynn as she rode back, adding that the nine-year-old gelding would probably spend the rest of the week preparing for the $5million showpiece with gallops on the turf course.

"We'll see during the week, but he might have a little blowout," she said.