Dawson hoping Zucchini cooks up another treat

Sunday racegoers are in for a treat as Meydan stages an eight-race meeting, starting at the new ‘matinee’ time of 2:30pm.

The card, sponsored by Emirates Airline, features five turf races, including the three most valuable contests which are all worth AED95,000. The Emirates Airline Handicap, race six, looks extremely competitive and has attracted a field of 12, including Zucchini (pictured), winner of his last two starts, here and at Jebel Ali.

Trained by Ahmad Bin Harmash, the evergreen eight-year-old will be one of seven rides on the card for jockey Ray Dawson, who is hopeful that the gelding can get the hattrick up.

“He’s in the form of his life, but he steps up in class this time,” said the rider, who already has 20 wins for the season. “It will be interesting to see if he can step up again with a low weight.”

Zucchini’s rivals include two last time out winners for Doug Watson, Sari Dubai, the mount of Pat Dobbs, and Qareeb, ridden by Sam Hitchcott. Trainer Salem Bin Ghadayer also has a strong hand, with top weight Mordin to be partnered by Mickael Barzalona, while dual UK winner Deciduous makes his UAE debut under Royston Ffrench.

Celtic Voyager became Emirati trainer Mohammed Mardood’s first winner when he scored here two weeks ago and the six-year-old tops the weights for the Emirates SkyCargo Handicap, over 1200metres on turf, race seven. Given a rise of 5lbs for that win, he will break from stall eight under jockey Richie Mullen.

“He’s our winner and he came out of the race fitter,” said Mardood. “He’s back up to 90 in rating and he carries top weight this time.”

Eighth behind Celtic Voyager last time was Will To Win, but Dawson hopes the gelding can bounce back from that rare disappointing effort.

“He was a bit flat last time but has a good draw this time for once and if he can produce either of his two runs before he should be going close,” said the jockey, who will break from stall 13.

Harvest Gold, second, second and third on his last three starts over this trip, is another leading contender for trainer Elise Jeanne, while Watson runs Papacito, Al Shibli and Aquaman.

The first of the three AED95,000 races is the Arabian Adventures Handicap, over 1600metres on turf, race five. UAE Champion Trainer Bhupat Seemar has a strong team here, with Poster Paint, the mount of stable jockey Tadhg O’Shea, looking to go one better than his second here last time. Seemar also runs Border Edge, the mount of Pat Cosgrave, and Tangled Words, who will make his local debut under Adrie De Vries.

The Zabeel Stables trio face stiff opposition in the form of Dawson’s ride Gareth, who followed up his win of a month ago with a fourth over 1800metres last time out.

“The race wasn’t run to suit him last time,” explained the rider. “This time he’s well drawn [3] and there seems to be a lot more pace in the race, so we’re expecting a big run.”

Mardood went shopping at Tattersalls at Newmarket in October and came back with Bullace, who finished ninth over 1400metres three weeks’ ago.

“It’s his second run in Dubai and he’s been making good progress,” commented the trainer.

The Emirates Airline Conditions Stakes, race four, for three-year-olds over 1900metres on dirt, looks an interesting contest. Go Soldier Go will be hard to beat, having placed on all three starts, including over course and distance. He will be ridden by De Vries for Fawzi Nass, while Dawson rides Habooba.

Sixth on debut in a strong fillies’ maiden, the daughter of Klimt has been off the track since that run in November.

“She ran well first time out in a race that’s worked out very well on form,” said the jockey. “The step up in trip will help and we’re hoping for a big run.”

De Vries and Nass, already on the mark this weekend with exciting Arabian RB Stryngs Attached at Abu Dhabi, also team up in the preceding Emirates.com Handicap, over 1800metres on dirt, with Sharar.

Second behind stablemate Legend Of Cannes last time out, Sharar is one of two three-year-olds in the race, the other being Mouneef for trainer Michael Costa. Mardood takes them on with Chef De Partie, who has finished fourth and third on his two local starts.

“Chef De Partie is a progressive horse who ran well twice last month,” said the trainer. “The distance will suit him on Sunday.”

Dawson has a good chance in the second race, the Emirates Holidays Maiden, over 1400metres on dirt. He rides the filly Habooba, who aims to improve on two fifth-placed efforts so far.

“She’s been disappointing this year, no doubt,” he said. “But it doesn’t look a strong contest and if she settles into the race nicely she should be going very close.”

Racing begins with the Emirates Skywards Maiden for which nine line up. Gates open at 12pm and there are a range of tickets available from dubairacingclub.com, starting at AED2 for General Admission.