Dormello set to face Haatheq’s challenge

Haatheq, ridden by Paul Hanagan, on way to winning the race in 2013. —KT file

A course and distance winner last year, the six-year-old son of Dansili has disappointed on seasonal debut a couple of weeks ago to finish well behind Jutland over a longer distance at the same track, but he should appreciate the drop in distance this time out to go close despite the penalty.

And while Dane O’Neill, the retained jockey of the stables of Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, has selected to ride the improving Jalaa for trainer Doug Watson on the account of his recent performance, it could be Haatheq (Royston Ffrench in the saddle) who will put his head in front at the busy end.

“Haatheq has won this race twice in 2011 and 2013, but he did not perform to his best on seasonal reappearance at Meydan, though he has shown good signs of return to form and should run well at Jebel Ali,” trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe said.

Elsewhere, seven top sprinters have been declared to engage in a bone-crushing confrontation in the 1200m Rated Conditions, the fifth race on the card. Oisin Murphy partners United Color, winner of the inaugural Listed Dubawi Stakes at the Meydan Racecourse last January, but he has yet to win on dirt finishing second in this race in each of the last two renewals.

The Musabah Al Muhairi-trained Muarrab won this race last year when completing an early season hat-trick. But, Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s retained jockey, Dan O’Neill, chooses to ride Fityaan out of his employer’s quartet in the race.

The fourth race, a nine furlong TB Handicap has attracted a full field of 14 runners under the starter’s orders with top weight Maqaraat looking for a quick double following his impressive win two weeks ago.

The six-year-old gelded son of Dalakhani is raced by Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, trained on his behalf by Doug Watson at the Red Stables and ridden by Dane O’Neill. But, the only threat could come from bottom weight Double Pass who has chased Maqaraat home last time out and could go one better thanks to the drop in weight.

The sixth race, a 1200m TB Handicap is another re-match between last time out winner Sixty Minutes (Musabah Al Muhairi/ Silvestre De Sousa) and runner-up First Knight (Doug Watson/ Pat Dobbs) that could also see reverse in places should First Knight manage to appreciate the extended distance and drop in weight.

Mountain Lion (Satish Seemar/ Richard Mullen) looks good to break the maiden in the second race and Al Yawazi has every chance to deliver for his new trainer Salem Al Ketbi under Tadhg O’Shea in the distinguished colours of the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in the only PA contest on the card.