Dubai: Meydan Racecourse hosts a well-filled matinee meeting on Saturday which is highlighted by the DP World, UAE Region handicap over a mile on turf.

The 1600m turf contest has attracted a maximum field of 14 horses with champion trainer Doug Watson supplying four runners and in-form Emirati handler Salem Bin Ghadayer three.

The pick of Watson’s quarter appears to be Ejaaby, who is seeking a hat-trick of Meydan victories, but a first over a mile.

Ejaabye will be ridden by former British champion jockey Jim Crowley, who commented: “He was staying on well for both his wins and the extra 200m should not be a problem. It looks another open race, but hopefully he will be thereabouts.”

Watson’s stable jockey, Pat Dobbs, rides Stunned with Sam Hitchcott, also employed primarily by Watson, aboard Pillar of Society. Stunned, a winner twice on the dirt at Meydan, is looking for a maiden turf victory at the ninth time of asking.

Pillar Of Society was second to Ejaaby, in a 1400m turf handicap at Meydan but failed to stay 1800m, also on the Meydan turf, a fortnight ago.

Bin Ghadayer has declared Mailshot, Hyde Park and Mind That Boy for the contest with Mailshot appearing to be his first best hope.

Stable jockey Mickael Barzalona rides Mailshot, on whom he won a course and distance handicap at a non-carnival Meydan meeting in January.

Xavier Ziani, like Barzalona, also based with Bin Ghadayer at Fazza Racing Stables, is aboard Hyde Park who will be having just his second local start having joined current connections from John Gosden.

Under Barzalona, he ran well for a long way in a 1400m Carnival turf handicap two weeks ago.

Meanwhile, Gerald Mosse rides Mind That Boy, who is yet to fire in seven starts this season, having previously been off the track since March 2016 when he contested the Group 3 Burj Nahaar on Super Saturday.

“We are hoping all three can run well and Mailshot is only a four-year-old who seems to be improving,” Bin Ghadayer said. “Hyde Park pleased us with his first run and is fitter now, while Mind That Boy was off a long while before returning this season. He has needed his runs, so far, but hopefully is showing the right signs at home. All three, with luck, should run well.”

Musawaat will be having just his second outing for Fawzi Nass after staying on strongly, on his dirt debut, in a 1400m handicap here last week. He won twice on turf in England for Charlie Hills but was well beaten, albeit on soft ground, on his only previous attempt at 1600m, his final UK outing.

The meeting begins with a 1600m three-year-old maiden on dirt provides a welcome chance for some unexposed types to advertise their potential UAE Derby claims.

Watson saddles Big Brown Bear, fourth a month ago on his only previous start, over this course and distance. He looked in need of the experience on that occasion and should have benefited from the run. That race was won by Yulong Warrior, trained by Satish Seemar who is responsible for three (after the withdrawal of Hawazen) of the 11 runners.

Richard Mullen has opted for Last Desire, well-beaten in that same contest in which Big Brown Bear debuted. Stable companion Grand Storm was third on just his second and most recent outing, in a 1600m maiden at Jebel Ali won by Mullen on another Seemar horse, Jabir.

It is then just seven days until the second biggest meeting of the UAE season, Super Saturday, the dress rehearsal for the Dubai World Cup card three weeks later.