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Hoping for a Grandstand Finish

When the Dubai International Racing Carnival rolls into town the locally-based trainers often get slightly overlooked, which is unfair as here in the UAE we have some considerable talent in the ranks.

At the moment, the Champion Trainers’ race looks a two-way battle between three-time Champion Doug Watson and Ali Rashid Al Raihe, who currently tops the table with 22 wins.

Considering Ali Raihe has only just over 50 horses in training at his Grandstand Stables base, that is a great achievement and it has come about through the return to form of some of his older campaigners, notably Montpellier, twice a winner at Jebel Ali already this season and a close second behind Global City at the Carnival on his latest outing.

He is in action at Meydan again this weekend, as is Jet Express, who has three wins to his name so far this campaign, including in the Listed Jebel Ali Mile. In total, Al Raihe fields 11 runners over Meydan’s double header, including the ultra-consistent Monte Alto, who has finished in the placings on all three of his starts at the world’s newest racecourse. While Al Raihe’s half of Grandstand Stables has some strong chances of getting that elusive 2010 Carnival winner this weekend, the other half of the stable, run by Mike De Kock, looks certain to add to their very impressive haul.

De Kock saddles Musir, sure to be the favourite for the UAE 2000 Guineas after a workmanlike victory last time out in the 1400 metre prep race. He wasn’t stopping at the end and is sure to give another good account in a classic which doesn’t look the strongest on paper.

By contrast, the second leg of the Al Makoum Challenge — one of five Group races at Meydan this weekend — has strength as well as depth, and an intriguing line-up faces Jet Express, who needs to prove he is as effective over 1900metres as he is over 1600. Top billing must surely go to Snaafy, winner of last year’s Burj Nahaar and a comfortable victor last time out on turf. In reproducing that on Tapeta, he has to go close. The same applies to Crowded House, stepping up in trip after a good second in the Al Rashidiya on his UAE debut. He will relish this step up in trip and has looked in great nick on the gallops this week.

Friday night sees the much anticipated return of 2008 Hong Kong Cup winner Eagle Mountain, who tackles the all weather for the first time and is sure to give a good account of himself under Kevin Shea. The night’s official feature, however, is the Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort, in which Godolphin’s Justenuffhumor makes his local debut after an excellent third in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. That is genuine Group I form, but Group 2 winner Bronze Cannon and stablemate Bankable also have leading chances.