Dubai: Trainer Dhruba Selvaratnam is targeting more big-race glory at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club today when he sends out Yasood to contest the HH The President Day Cup Prep for thoroughbreds.
Selvaratnam bagged the National Day Cup with Jasoos and is hoping for a repeat success in today's prep race. The Listed HH The President Day Cup takes place on December 26.
Yasood was fourth in his season appearance at Abu Dhabi last month but Selvaratnam reports that the horse needed the run and will come on for it on his return to action today. "He ran well last time out so I'm not worried about his fitness. He likes it at Abu Dhabi which makes us hopeful," said the Jebel Ali-based trainer.
However, today's ten-horse field is brimming with quality. Based on stable form alone a horse worth keeping an eye on is Satish Seemar's Escape Route, who was second in the Cup last year to Ibn Battuta. Seemar's Zabeel Stables have shown rousing early season form by notching ten wins and that should be enough to encourage one to bank on Escape Route.
Champion trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe's With Interest and the Doug Watson-trained veteran So Will I can also step up on the big stage.
Today's meeting also features a prep race for the Group 1 HH The President's Cup which has attracted 14 declarations led by last year's winner of the feature, Jarnin.
The penultimate race is a prep for the juveniles' Abu Dhabi Championship where the Musabah Al Muhairi-trained Aqmaar should vie for honours with Al Raihe's Masharref.
