Watson looks to pocket trainer's championship

Dubai: Last year's champion trainer Doug Watson will be hoping to end the Winter Challenge racing at the Nad Al Sheba tonight with a few more winners and stay within striking distance of the trainer's championship ahead of the Carnival.

Watson registered a double last time out here and is on 11 winners, one behind Rod Simpson with Ali Rashid Al Raihe on 16. However he has a good chance of improving his tally as tonight's action sees two races on turf for the first time this season with the opening race marked out for Purebred Arabians.

Watson's Al Jalfane stands a good chance though owner Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, has seven of the nine in this race running in his colours.

"Al Jalfane has done very well in training and is better prepared then when he made his first run last season," said Watson, speaking to Gulf News.

Watson's Clasp returns after a strong second-place finish in last week's 1-2-3 for the trainer and could go one better this time.

"He [Clasp] is back in a week and though he had a tough race he seems to be thriving. Royal Prince is also ready and though he is a bit older the trip suits him," said Watson of two of his three runners in the 10-furlong Lexington Trophy to be run on turf.

The Mubarak Khalifa Bin Shafya-trained Military Power is expected to garner a lot of support in this race which also sees Jerry Barton saddle Noble Bedouin for his Saudi connections.

The Keeneland Trophy over six furlongs is expected to be a cracker of a race with Satish Seemar's Terrific Challenge, Musabah Al Muhairi's Instant Recall, Mubarak Bin Shafya's Conquest being challenged by Mike de Kock's Frosty Secret and Barton's Big Man City making his regional debut after three successive wins in his last three starts in California.

Mike de Kock's Tayyab has shown terrific form in his first outing here and could be the one to beat with Aqmaar, one of the three runners from Erwan Charpy's yard a close contender, though both will be tested tonight on turf after their earlier exploits on dirt.