Winter Challenge picks up pace

Dubai: The race for top honours in the Winter Racing Challenge looks set to pick up pace on Thursday night, with last year's champions Musabah Al Muhairi and Royston Ffrench under pressure to defend their titles.

Al Muhairi, who trains at the Oasis I Stables, has sent out six smart winners this season, but still trails Grandstand's Ali Rashid Al Raihe and Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club's Eric Lemartinel, by one.

Doug Watson, the reigning UAE champion trainer, has four wins, the same number as Jebel Ali's Dhruba Selvaratnam.

Al Muhair has solid chances in four of tonight's six races with Masquerader looking hard to be in the meet's concluding race - the Al Karama handicap over a straight 1,200 metres.

An impressive winner on the opening night of the season the six-year-old son of Unbridled battled hard before going down by a short head to Al Raihe's Crooner at Nad Al Sheba two weeks ago.

He faces eight rivals today with most his opponents making their seasonal debuts. The two races he has under his belt should give him the edge and he is taken to score from Selvaratnam's Hadahoo.

Al Muhairi's other big chance of the night must lie with Pearly King in the Al Safa-sponsored handicap over 2,000 metres.

Like his stable companion Masquerader, the son of King Mambo has run twice this season and also scored in a competitive-looking handicap over 2,400 metres, which he won in impressive fashion.

Al Muhairi also saddles Sahara Sphinx in the Al Mankhool handicap over 1,800 metres, but comes up against the smart Argentinian import Lucky Ray, who has won two races on the bounce for Watson.

The Oasis Stables handler's also looks to have a respectable chance with Africanus in the Al Dhiyafah mile where Watson's Tri Another Cat and Selvaratnam's Daweyrr and also have the right credentials.

Watson's Gulf of Gold can win on his seasonal debut today but Rod Simpson's Shahin Shah and Al Muhairi's Pentland Firth also appeal.

Simpson, who is based at the Al Asayl stables in Abu Dhabi, must have a big chance of landing the Purebred Arabian handicap over 1,600 metres with last-outing runner-up Fryvolous.

Arabian specialist Gillian Duffield saddles Markoom, who was a noteworthy second on his last start and can make amends.