Harmash team ready for a big night

There is plenty to intrigue Meydan racegoers on Sunday when the seven-race card features several horses vying for places at the Dubai World Cup Carnival.

There are four races on the turf track, and four worth AED95,000 in prizemoney, with big fields throughout the evening, which gets underway at 6pm.

One of the headline acts is Charlie Appleby’s Sense Of Wisdom, who heads 10 runners in the Lincoln Navigator Handicap, race five, over 1800metres on turf. The four-year-old makes a quick return to action, having finished eighth, beaten less than four lengths, over a mile last week.

Returning after two weeks is Gareth (pictured), who benefitted from settling better when winning here over 1900metres two weeks ago. He will be ridden again by Ray Dawson, while his trainer Ahmad Bin Harmash also saddles First Winter, fourth over 2000metres last week, who is the mount of Saif Al Balushi.

“Gareth is a good horse, he wasn’t beaten far last year on the turf and then this time, first time on Meydan turf [this season] he won, so we think he’s a horse to follow,” said Bin Harmash, adding: “First Winter wasn’t fit last week, he just needed the run to get him ready, so he should be better this time.”

Trainer Michael Costa has just one runner this week and he saddles topweight Tahdeed in the Lincoln Handicap, race six, over 1600metres on dirt. A winner over course and distance two starts ago, he needs to bounce back from a disappointing run last time out at Jebel Ali.

“Back to Meydan is a plus for him,” said Costa, who has eight winners so far this season. “He over-raced a little bit in the run last time at Jebel Ali. If he can carry [top] weight and get a good run in transit then we expect him to be back to his best.”

Tahdeed’s ten rivals includes the progressive Ibra Attack, twice a winner at Jebel Ali this season, while Bin Harmash runs Triple Venture, a winner over 1400metres here two starts ago.

“Triple Venture is only a handicap horse, that is his level, but I think it will be hard for him in this grade, with 75-90 rated horses,” said the trainer of the six-year-old.

Bin Harmash also runs the well-bred Vasilakos, a half-brother to UK 2000 Guineas winner Coreobus, in the Al Tayer Motors Handicap, race three, over 2000metres on dirt. The five-year-old make his Meydan debut, having made a winning start to UAE life at Al Ain in November.

Vasilakos is more of a turf horse but I don’t want to run him against Gareth and First Winter,” said the trainer. “He’s been off since he won at Al Ain, with some small problems such as tying up. He has been working well but the Al Ain track is different than the Meydan track. We’ll give him a run here and then go to the turf in two weeks. He has a good pedigree but it’s all turf horses.”

Vasilakos takes on four trained by Doug Watson, including Verboten, who will aim to go one better than when he was second to Ajuste Fiscal six weeks ago. He is the pick of stable jockey Pat Dobbs, with Carpe Momentum, Violent Justice and Mulfit also lining up for Red Stables.

Bin Harmash has two chances in the Lincoln Corsair Maiden, race two, over 1600metres on turf. Al Hajaj, fifth last time out over 1400metres, is the pick of Dawson, while Power Solution makes his debut under Al Balushi.

“Al Hajaj ran good first time out here but he doesn’t show anything in training, so he follows another horse,” said the trainer. “Power Solution we don’t know as it’s first time out. He’s now showing a bit more at home but Ray chose Al Hajaj because he has more experience.”

Bin Harmash knows plenty about Zucchini, who aims for his second win in just over a week, having scored at Jebel Ali last Saturday. He faces 10 rivals in the Lincoln Nautilus Handicap, race four, over 2000metres on turf.

“It’s a big question mark as he doesn’t go as well left-handed,” said the trainer. “He goes well at Al Ain and Jebel Ali but we’ve decided to run him here as he will have too much weight in a 0-80 at Jebel Ali up the hill.”

The final race is a very open turf dash, the Lincoln Presidential Handicap, over 1200metres. Hamad Al Marar’s Persian Empire will aim to follow up his recent maiden win, dropping in trip under jockey Rowan Scott. His rivals include Harvest Gold, who failed by a short head to reel in Nibraas over course and distance two weeks ago.

“Harvest Gold is an honest little horse who likes to run on turf,” said trainer Elise Jeanne. “He was late to mature and people sometimes underestimate him as he’s small.

“I’m not concerned about the draw [4] as it’s on the straight track, although I hope the ground will be the same everywhere.”

Tickets are available from dubairacingclub.com, priced from just AED2 for General Admission.