Surour takes unassailable lead in Trainers Programme

Dubai: Saeed Bin Surour, with 21 winners this Dubai International Racing Carnival, has an unassailable lead in the DIRC Trainers' Reward Programme, having accumulated 615 points, 312 ahead of his closest rival Mike De Kock, who has saddled 13 firsts.

There is prize-money totalling $200,000 on offer to the top six trainers at the 2008 Dubai International Racing Carnival (DIRC).

For the second year running, the DIRC Rewards' Programme offers trainers the chance to earn points during the first 10 race-nights of the DIRC from January 17 to March 6.

Super Thursday

Bin Surour will collect $120,000 as the trainer with the most points, and prize-money goes down to the sixth highest earner, who collects $4,000.

In addition, special commemorative trophies will be presented to the owner, trainer and jockey, who register most wins during the first 10 nights of the Dubai International Racing Carnival. These awards will be presented on Dubai World Cup night on March 29.

Meanwhile, with Super Thursday's meeting on March 6 fast approaching, many of the expected main protagonists have been working at Nad Al Sheba, with the Mike De Kock-trained pair of Honour Devil and Royal Vintage catching the eye.

First and second in the UAE 2000 Guineas, they both worked on the turf with Johnny Murtagh on Honour Devil, on whom he won the colts' Classic.

Update

Horse sale today

The inaugural Dubai International Racing Carnival Sale, part of the revamped annual Emirates Racing Authority Horse in Training Sale, takes place today. The Dubai Racing Club and Europe's leading auction house Tattersalls have entered into a partnership that promises to add a new dimension to the Dubai International Racing Carnival.

Taking place at Nad Al Sheba, there are now 44 horses going under the hammer at the DIRCS, with the Robbie Osborne-trained King Jock and Doug Watson's duo T-Bird and Arabian Prince additional entries. King Jock, with a rating of 108, has been a great servant to Irish trainer Robbie Osborne and also a real favourite in the UAE.

The seven-year-old gelding has raced 20 times here, and succeeded four times, including twice at Listed level at Abu Dhabi and also at the 2005 and 2006 Carnival. Outside of the UAE, the son of Ghazi has won four other times, including the Group 3 Desmond Stakes at The Curragh in 2006.

Statistics

Prize-money pool:

• 1st place $120,000
• 2nd place $40,000
• 3rd place $20,000
• 4th place $10,000
• 5th place $6,000
• 6th place $4,000

Points System:

• 1st place 17 points
• 2nd place 8 points
• 3rd place 5 points
• 4th place 3 points
• 5th place 2 points
• 6th place 1 point