Dubai: Meydan Racecourse’s first meeting of the 2016-2017 season could provide a windfall for reigning champion trainer Doug Watson who saddles several leading chances in the seven-race opener sponsored by Emirates.

Watson, who is responsible for 13 runners across the card headed by the hardened Etijaah in the featured Emirates Airlines Handicap over 2,000 metres, reports that all of them are in good nick.

Owned by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, whose colours were carried to victory in 67 races during the last season, the six-year-old seems likely to be sent off as the Pick Six favourite.

The son of Daheer won the corresponding race 12 months ago and Watson, who also saddles Storm Belt, Zain Eagle and Jeeraan, said: “Etijaah is fresh and in great form. He showed last year he can run well off a break whereas Jeeraan improved markedly from his first start 12 months ago. Storm Belt has a lot of weight and will certainly come on for the run. He seems very well, as do all of mine.

“Zain Eagle has had surgery since his last outing and can hopefully catch up for lost time but will improve with this run under his belt. We would have to hope they can all go well and at least be very competitive.”

Another of the Watson quartet to have won over track and trip, Storm Belt must concede weight to his nine rivals but takes a significant drop in class.

Jockey Dane O’Neill, retained by Shaikh Hamdan, elects to ride Etijaah with Godolphin Mile-winning rider, Sam Hitchcott taking the ride on Jeeraan.

Watson’s long serving stable jockey, Pat Dobbs partners Storm Belt.

Watson also has strong claims in a good number of the other six races on a card worth an accumulative Dh1.5 million in prize money.

Ex-Godolphin galloper Docket is the pick in the Emirates Skycargo Handicap while former all-weather specialist Boarding Party can claim a career-first victory in the Arabian Adventures Maiden Stakes, both of which are 1,400 metre contests.

Watson also debuts Indescribable, a four-time winner in the UK and previously trained by Mark Johnston, in the 1,200 metre Emirates.com Handicap.

However, the four-year-old son of Invincible Spirit has not raced in 14 months and has a lot to find on form and fitness to trouble the likes of the Satish Seemar-trained Speedy Move, Ahmad Bin Harmash’s Fitzgerald and the Dhruba Selvaratnam trainee Roossey.

“He has been showing up nicely in his work. We were not able to get him to the track last season when things just did not pan out,” Watson explained.

“He is fit and raring to go. He seems to handle dirt at home but you never really know until they race on it.”

Reigning UAE champion jockey O’Shea has an interesting booking in the race in which he rides Mutahaddith for Emirati handler Ali Rashid Al Raihe,

O’Shea did the steering when Mutahaddith won at Jebel Ali’s first meeting of the season last year before twice scoring over Meydan’s 1,200m dirt track.

“He was Grandstand Stables’ first winner of last season and can hopefully repeat the feat this time,” said O’Shea, a two-time twice Irish champion apprentice when based with the legendary Dermot Weld. “The track and trip really suit him so, with his great draw in two, he should go very close.”

Zabeel Stables handler Satish Seemar takes his chances with Speedy Move, winner of his only UAE start at Jebel Ali in March. In total Meydan Racecourse will stage 20 meetings which culminate in the Dubai World Cup on March 25.

 

GN Selections

Race 1: 1. Al Zeem; 2. Leap Of Hope.

Race 2: 1. Docket; 2. Long Water.

Race 3: 1. Criminalistic; 2. Boarding Party.

Race 4: 1. Nathr; 2. Stormardal.

Race 5: 1. Etijaah; 2. Storm Belt.

Race 6: 1. Speedy Move; 2. Dairam.

Race 7: 1. Mister Parma; 2. Rockley.

Day’s Best: Etijaah.