Charpy hopeful despite strong Kahayla field

Dubai: Erwan Charpy is hoping it will be third time lucky for Versac PY in the Purebred Arabian Group 1 Kahayla Classic on Saturday.

The former UAE trainers’ champion has seen his six-year-old bay son of Njewman come second in the last two legs of the Al Maktoum Challenge (Group 1), but Charpy feels he has the potential to win in what he thinks is one of the most open fields ever in a Kahayla Classic.

“Versac PY will try to go one better, [he] has been beaten twice, by Nieshan on Super Saturday and by Albar Lotois on February 7,” said the Frenchman, who confirmed that Paul Hanagan would be in the saddle once again.

“I think it will be a great tactical race. A few of the horses have a lot of speed in there. I think it is an open race. There are many horses that can win it. It has never been so open.

“I am happy that we have got a good draw. We start from stall two. That’s fine for me.

“Versac is in good shape. He is doing well. He looks fantastic. We will have to see on Saturday.”

Commenting on the field, Charpy said: “Nieshan is the obvious one to beat, he is always banging in there. The French horse Al Mamun Monlau is a tricky character but with a lot of ability. Majid Al Jahouri’s Areem and even Seraphin Du Paon, who has been consistent. When things go his [Seraphin’s] way he can be difficult.”

Charpy feels defending champion TM Fred Texas will have to reproduce his form. “Fred Texas, unless he reverts to his better form, he has not been running as well in Qatar,” he said.

“But he came to Qatar, ran there, then came here last year to win the Kahayla, then went back to the US and then back to Qatar — he has been running a lot. If he reverses the form he will be tough to beat.”

Versac’s owner Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, has dominated the Kahayla Classic with six wins, including five in a row. But that winning streak ended five years back and Charpy will be banking on Versac to change that. “I would love to win it. I need it. We had a very quiet season — it has been a tough season.”