Conceal in form for repeat win

The signs could hardly be better for Conceal as Richard Alford's improving sprinter bids for back-to-back victories when he contests the Al Adiyat Cup, the featured race of today's Ramadan race meeting at Nad Al Sheba.

A resolute winner over today's course and distance seven days ago Conceal renews his rivallry with the Erwan Charpy-trained San Salvador, whom he beat by half a length on that occasion.

A top-class sprinter on his best efforts, the Cadeaux Genereux four-year-old is the pick of the 11 runners chasing a purse of Dhs 105,000.

San Salvador is the one runner clearly open to improvement, having been set a good bit to do in his only start this season. He can better his already high-class form of last season where he claimed successive wins at this course.

Cause for optimism in the Charpy camp will come from the fact that Conceal is two and half kilos poorer off at the weights for his half length victory over San Salvador.

But Alford's Conceal is a true iron horse and today's race will be his third in less than a month. With veteran Turkish rider Haydar Yuce sitting out a ban Dimitris Mylonas takes the ride.

But if you thought today's Nad Al Sheba feature is a two-horse race, think again. Spice is added by the presence of other top-class sprtiners like Paddy Rudkin's Crystal Magician, Charpy's second string Shaard and Allan Smith's Baaridd, all of whom have proved themselves capable competitiors.

Also out to make their mark are the newcomers Al Maali, who raced for Alec Stewart in the UK, the Argentinian-bred and raced Vacacionado and John Sadler's Mobaader.

However, Conceal appeals the most and should provide former Indian champion trainer Alford with his second UAE success.

A small but competitive looking field of six runners will contest the Akhbar Al Arab Trophy, a Limited conditions race over eight and a half furlongs.

Topweight Alunite, who finished sixth behind Pacino in the Listed Jebel Ali Stakes in March when trained by Saeed bin Suroor for Godolphin, has to be respected as will Opportunista well-bred son of Machivellian.

Jaci Wickham's Samood, also a former Godolphin horse, has been sparing raced and is held in high regard by his trainer.

Dubai Editorion, Indian Dreamer and Asha'th complete the field.

Three of the night's six races have been filled to capacity with the Al Khayal Trophy, a maiden's event over eight furlongs on turf, looking positively cracking.

Any one of the 16 acceptors have the credintials to win with my vote going to Charpy's Lanzador.

The Argentinian-bred four-year-old looked particularly impressive when running second to Fueguino in last season's Pearls of Dubai International Sales Graduate Stakes. Should he reproduce that effort he could be the one they will all have to beat.

Other notable runners include Satish Seemar's Mipan, fifth on his seasonal debut two weeks ago, and Paddy Rudkin's Rue Mazarine, who was a competitive third on the opening day of the 2002-2003 season.