Dubai After an outstanding three-year-old season, dual Classic winner Polar River is set to move on to the next stage of her career when she makes her first appearance in eight months at Meydan Racecourse on Thursday.
The winner of her first four starts by a combined 31 ¾ lengths, before suffering her first defeat by Japanese raider Lani in the Group 2 UAE Derby, Doug Watson’s star filly will be the star attraction at the seven-race meeting sponsored by Meydan’s long-time pillar partner, Gulf News.
High on prospective talent, but perhaps a trifle unlucky when caught out for room in the colt’s Classic on Dubai World Cup night, Polar River has been singled out by the reigning UAE champion handler as “the one we are really looking forward to this season.”
The UAE 1000 Guineas and Group 3 UAE Oaks heroine takes on nine male rivals in the featured Gulf News Conditions Stakes over 1,600 metres.
“She is a lovely filly and was a real star last season,” said Watson. “Her work has been very good and she is, basically, ready for a race. She has a lot of weight to carry but her early season options are limited and this looked the ideal start point.
“She is one we are really looking forward to this season.”
Watson’s long-serving stable jockey, Pat Dobbs, once again takes the ride.
The Red Stable’s boss is also responsible for Grand Argentier, a course and distance winner in February, who will be ridden by Sam Hitchcott, another affiliate of the championship-winning outfit located near the Metropolitan Hotel on Shaikh Zayed Road.
“Like Polar River, Grand Argentier is pleasing us at home and this looked the race to get him back in racecourse action. He has done well over the summer and should run a big race,” said Watson.
While Polar River is sure to start the race as the indisputable favourite, danger lurks in the form of the Dhruba Selvaratnam-trained Top Clearance, another promising type who has already found success on the Meydan dirt.
A dual winner at Chruchill Downs, Kentucky and Monmouth Park, New Jersey, when previously trained in America, the four-year-old is held in high regard by his veteran handler.
“My horses have been needing their first run thus far this season so I expect Top Clearance will also need it,” said Selvaratnam. “He has been gelded since last season but is working well.
“He will certainly improve for the run and can hopefully have a good season.”
With stable jockey, Chris Hayes injured, Selvaratnam has booked Irish Champion Jockey Pat Smullen for both his Meydan runners this weekend.
A former stable jockey at the Jebel Ali Stable, Smullen partnered the trainer’s Market Rally to victory in last season’s Al Bastakiya on Super Saturday when Hayes was suspended.
He was also on board when Top Clearance finished sixth behind Cool Cowboys in the Group 3 Burj Nahaar on the same Super Saturday card.
Former champion handler Ali Rashid Al Raihe introduces Tempus Tempris, a dual winner in the UK when previously trained by John Gosden, while fellow Emirati handler Ahmad Bin Harmash is counting on Al Aasfa Racing Stable contender Ennobled Friend.
All seven races on the card are sponsored by Gulf News and its several publications — Tabloid, Friday, Xpress, Property Weekly, Inside Out and gulfnews.com
GN selections
Race 1: 1. Al Boraq; 2. Al Madam.
Race 2: 1. Tagseed; 2. Maltese Cat.
Race 3: 1. Scandicci; 2. Paranormal.
Race 4: 1. Moosir; 2. Rockley.
Race 5: 1. Polar River; 2. Top Clearance.
Race 6: 1. Fast Enough; 2. Long Water.
Race 7: 1. Muhtaram; 2. Watheeq.
Day’s Best: Polar River
