Dubai: Muarrab, the $2m Dubai Golden Shaheen Champion, gets his title-defense season underway at Meydan Racecourse this evening with an appearance in the Listed Garhoud Sprint sponsored by Lincoln Continental.

The 1200m Golden Shaheen victory on Dubai World Cup night 2016 was the highlight of Muarrab’s impressive 13 career victories, 11 of which have been registered in the UAE since joining Musabbeh Al Mheiri at Oasis Stables.

The seven-year-old gelding’s winning portfolio also includes a Jebel Ali Sprint in 2015, as well as Super Saturday’s Group 3 Mahab Al Shimaal last season over Thursday’s course and distance, as well landing The Garhoud Sprint 12 months ago.

One of three in the race sporting the colours of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, he is the choice of the owner’s retained jockey, Dane O’Neill, but is far from ideally drawn out wide in stall 11 of the 12 runners.

Muarrab, as a Group 1 winner also carries an additional weight penalty.

“It is not a great draw and he carries a penalty,” said O’Neill. “However, he goes well fresh and is tactically versatile so, hopefully, we can overcome the draw and maintain my perfect record on him; I have ridden him twice in a race, winning both times.”

The only runner drawn wider than Muarrab is the same owner’s Ghaamer, trained by Ali Rashid Al Rayhi and the mount of stable jockey, Tadhg O’Shea.

However they fare in that speed test, Al Rayhi and O’Shea will hope their Le Bernardin can emulate his victory of 12 months ago in the second of three Listed contests on the night, the Dubai Creek Mile, Sponsored by Lincoln MKZ.

Al Rayhi’s charge then followed up in the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge R1 on the same Dubai World Cup Carnival night on which Ghaamer won.

“He has a penalty which obviously makes things more difficult,” said O’Shea. “Unlike Ghaamer though, he has a good draw which hopefully we can utilise.

“He goes well fresh and is in great form at home so should run a big race.”

O’Neill is again aboard one of the main dangers in the race, Maftool who is owned by Shaikh Hamdan and trained by Al Mheiri. Winner of the UAE 2000 Guineas last year for Godolphin, he made a winning start for his new trainer in a course and distance handicap in February before failing to land a blow in the Godolphin Mile.

“He is a very nice horse and, like Muarrab, goes well fresh,” said O’Neill. “The trainer is very happy with him and I hope he will be competitive in a good race.”

Tickets are available for all Meydan race meetings, including the Dubai World Cup.