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All Eyes on Presvis

DUBAI — Global trotter and Group-1 winner Presvis leads a small field of four runners to smash on seasonal debut in the $150,000 TB Handicap over 2000m second race on the card at the Meydan Racecourse on Friday.

The five-year-old gelded son of Sakhee has enjoyed a successful season last summer. He finished second behind Gladiatorus in the $5m Dubai Duty Free Gr-1 on the Dubai World Cup night last March. Later in April, Presvis travelled to Sha Tin in Hong Kong to deliver for Luca Cumani in the Gr-1 Audemars Piguet QEII Cup. But he just failed when beaten by a head by Gloria De Campeao in the Singapore Airlines International Cup the following month.

Cumani’s assistant trainer Charlie Henson explained: “If we are going to aim him at the $10million Dubai World Cup we need to prove he handles the conditions and what better way to do that than in a race over the course and distance. He seems to be comfortable on it in the mornings and it would be great to be able to target the inaugural Meydan Dubai World Cup.”

Friday’s feature race, the mile Group Three Cape Verdi, will see quality field of 11 runners going to post.

Two-time Group winner Zirconeum represents the yard of Mike de Kock and the South African trainer looks forward to see the filly restoring the glory days of Ipi Tombi and Sun Classique.

De Kock said: “She is a nice filly but will come on for the run and we hope to make into a [Dubai] World Cup night contender.

“The Group One penalty makes it tough but she should go well.”

Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor is represented by Aspectoflove who will be having her first start for the yard having been a Listed winner for John Oxx last season. Bin Suroor said: “Obviously she is new to the yard but has been pleasing us at home. She will be better for the outing but hope for a big run.”

The race has a truly international flavour with Yana representing India and very hard to assess under Ryan Moore, while Joanna Morgan does well in the UAE and relies on Fourpenny Lane for Ireland.

Ahla Wasahl represents David Simcock and she won a very competitive fillies’ Listed handicap at Ascot in September, while Vattene is a multiple Listed winner representing Italy.