Sari Dubai goes for three-peat

It took him a while to finally get a win but now Sari Dubai (pictured) stands on the brink of the Dubai World Cup Carnival as he goes for a third straight win on Sunday’s eight-race card.

The Doug Watson-trained colt lines up in the competitive Dubai Creek Harbour by Emaar Handicap, race five, over 2000metres on turf. His current rating of 87 leaves him on the cusp of achieving the 90 required to run at the Carnival.

“Sari Dubai looks to have a nice chance,” said Watson, who trains the grey for owner Saeed Sultan Al Rahoomi. “He’s been very solid since moving to turf.”

Sari Dubai’s 13 rivals include three trained by Ahmad Bin Harmash. First Winter, a winner here two weeks ago over 1600metres, takes on his stablemate Franz Kafka, second over 1800metres last week, while Gareth, a winner here last month, makes up the trio.

Another capacity field of 14 lines up in race six, the Rashid Yachts and Marina Cup, over 1400metres on turf. They include Sense Of Power, who is likely to start favourite for Charlie Appleby. The winner of one of his four starts in the UK, the four-year-old was second on his most recent start at Newmarket in September and makes his local debut here.

Sense Of Power faces three trained by Watson; Cairn Island, Turjomaan and Bawaasil; the latter the pick of stable jockey Pat Dobbs.

“Bawaasil is probably our best chance in that race,” said the trainer of the eight-year-old, who won over this course and distance back in April 2021.

Trainer Michael Costa saddled the first two winners here last Sunday and he runs two in the Downtown Dubai By Emaar Handicap, race seven, over 2200metres on dirt. They are Alhzeem, a nine-length maiden winner here last week, and Waathig, successful at Jebel Ali two starts ago.

“They’re both backing up quickly,” said the trainer. “Waathig back on dirt is a plus and Alhzeem seems to have recovered pretty well from that win. He didn’t beat much but he couldn’t have done it any better. He’s up to handicap level now so we’ll just have to see how they level up, but the extra distance will suit him.”

Watson runs three, including Qareeb, twice a winner over 1900metres here this season. “Qareeb has been very consistent and if he gets the 2200metres he should be tough,” said the handler, who also sends out American Dancer and Karnavaal, both of whom are yet to strike in the UAE.

There are two maiden races on the card, and Costa has strong chances in both. He runs Keffaaf, second on debut at Jebel Ali, in the Arabian Ranches by Emaar Maiden, race two, over 1600metres on turf.

“Keffaaf is really designed to get over a bit of ground,” said Costa of the four-year-old. “He surprised me a little bit over six furlongs [1200metres] at Jebel Ali because I thought he’d be run off his feet. He was early but then he came home OK; better than I thought he would.

“Stepping up to a mile is a plus, it’s just whether that’s still a little bit too short for him, we’ll see, but there’s not much depth to this so he should run a race.”

Rivals to Keffaaf include Salem Bin Ghadayer’s Made In Dubai, placed on five of his ten starts to date, while Maputo and Mischief Moon represent Bhupat Seemar.

Race three, the Emaar Beachfront Maiden over 1400metres on turf, also has 14 runners. Among them is Costa’s Kal Barg, who has been placed on two of his three starts and was beaten a short-head at Jebel Ali last time out.

“Kal Barg, I couldn’t have him any better, the ducks have just lined up for him,” said the trainer. “If he gets any luck from the gate [12] then he’ll be extremely hard to beat. He’s just jumping out of his skin.”

The eight-race card gets underway at 2:30pm with the Valley By Emaar contest, a Conditions event for Purebred Arabians. Tickets, including the new Sunday brunch deal, are available from dubairacingclub.com