Champ Durcan returns to the fray

Dubai: Ted Durcan, who enjoyed another remarkable level of dominance during the 2007-08 UAE racing season where he captured his sixth jockey's championship, makes his seasonal debut at tonight's Al Tayer Motors-sponsored Winter Racing Carnival meeting.

The popular Irishman has a tidy book of rides and will be hoping to get off the mark straight away.

He has rides in five of the evening's six races and looks to have a big chance on Pearly King in the featured Maserati Granturismo Trophy over 2,400 metres and aboard Masquerader in the Al Tayer Motors Trophy sprint.

Both the plubm rides are for leading trainer Musabah Al Muhairi, whose Oasis I Stables look to be in awesome form.

Pearly King was a competitive second to Lucky Ray on the opening night of the new season, and is expected to go one better on his return to Nad Al Sheba racecourse today.

His six rivals include the Doug Watson-trained Elmustanser, who ran in the 2005 Dubai World Cup won by American star Roses in May.

The seven-year-old son of Machiavellian has not performed upto expectations since, but was a noteworthy third to Electrocutionist in the third round of the Maktoum Challenge in 2006.

It will also be worthy keeping an eye on Muta-sallil, the highest rated runner in the field who is also trained by Watson.

Durcan's best chance lies with Masquerader, who looks hard to beat in the 1,200 metre sprint which has attracted a small field of six runners. The five-year-old son of Unbridled is looking for his third consecutive win, having scored in March at Jebel Ali and followed it up a victory on the opening night.

Racing concludes with the Maserati Quattroporte Stakes over 1,600 metres where the Watson-trained Roman's Run makes his seasonal reappearance.

Watson told the Dubai Racing Club: "He is in good form at home and we are hoping for a big run from him. He has to give weight all round but should give a good account."

Fifteen runners go to post in the opening Purebred Arabian handicap, the Ferrari Scuderia Trophy over 1,200 metres. This looks an open race with Eric Lemartinel's Murawih the pick of the lot.

Durcan rider topweight Muthaaber, who is trained by Gill Duffield.