Jara seeks win in race named after Invasor

Dubai: Fernando Jara, who rode Invasor to victory in the 2007 Dubai World Cup (Group 1), will be hoping to win a race named after the great horse when he partners Green Coast in a 1,400metre contest at Nad Al Sheba today.

A Carnival winner last season, Green Coast has a touch of class and his trainer Doug Watson expects a bold show from him.

"He seems in good form and this looks a good race to bring him back. He will improve for the run though and has to give weight to his seven rivals," he told the Dubai Racing Club.

At the bottom of the weighs is the unbeaten Knight of Dance, representing the Musabah Al Muhairi-Wayne Smith team who have enjoyed a lot of success in recent times.

Winner of the first thoroughbred race of last season, the five-year-old was then off the track 53 weeks before winning a handicap over tonight's trip a month ago.

Smith explained: "He has obviously had a lot of problems but impressed me when winning last time. He should put up a big effort."

Best form

Erwan Charpy's Skywards and Ali Rashid Al Raihe's Heart Beat are others to consider.

The concluding 1100m Shadwell Farm Daaher Handicap is also a quality affair with the weights headed by the Adi Selvaratnam-trained Salaam Dubai who has to give weight to 10 rivals. Third in the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen on Dubai World Cup night in 2007, he was second to subsequent Dubai World Cup runner-up Asiatic Boy last season and a repeat of either effort would see him go close.

Richard Mullen takes the ride and said: "On his best form he would have to go close but he was a bit disappointing last time."

Watson's Bounty Quest, Satish Seemar's Terrific Challenge and Selvaratnam's other runner, Conroy, all have Group form over course and distance but the trio all have something to prove having suffered problems in recent times.

That leaves Machynleth, another bottom weight ridden by Wayne Smith for Musabah Al Muhairi, as perhaps the main danger.

Watson's Lord Ego and Clasp, Dhruba Selvaratnam's Jaasoos and Rod Simpson's Shahin Shah will all go close in their respective races, while the sole Purebred Arabian race, the 2000m Shadwell Farm Intidab Handicap, is ultra competitive and hard to call.

A Carnival winner last season, Green Coast has a touch of class and his trainer Doug Watson expects a bold show from him.