Seven-race card at Sharjah

DUBAI - Postponed last week due to a power cut, the fourth and final meeting of the season on the Sharjah dirt has been rearranged for this Saturday afternoon with last week’s declarations standing for the seven-race card.

Published: Sun 27 Feb 2011, 1:03 AM

Last updated: Tue 7 Apr 2015, 8:42 AM

The official highlight of the dirt card is the Ruler Of Sharjah handicap, the course’s main race of the campaign over 1700m for Purebred Arabians.

The weights are headed by Bareq who won the race last year and represents the in-form pair of trainer Musabah Al Muhairi and jockey Wayne Smith but does have to give weight to his eight rivals. Smith said: “We know conditions suit him and he runs well at Sharjah.”

Bareq was beaten over course and distance back in November by the Tony Manuel-trained Knife who will again be ridden by Jesus Rosales. Kung Fu is another course and distance winner, while Das Jalabi and AF Maqam Alezz cannot be ruled out.

The Sharjah Marathon is over 2700m and the Doug Watson-trained Fantastique Mhf will be hard to beat under Richard Hills, if he stays the trip. Watsons said: “He goes well at Sharjah but this is a new trip for him but we have to be hopeful.”

Pat Dobbs partners dirt debutant Barag for Tony Manuel, while Ibn Abeya chased home Bareq over 1700m here before Christmas so clearly handles conditions.Chase Me and Adraaj are two others to consider.

There are two Thoroughbred handicaps and Hills combines with Champion Trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe in the first, over 1200m, with Serhaal who won well at Jebel Ali last time. He looks progressive and could be hard to beat.

Kilt Rock and Wadi Wanderer need to prove themselves on the surface but Watson’s Daybreak Dancer looks well treated and could be a big danger under Pat Dobbs.

The field for the 2000m Thoroughbred handicap also includes a recent Jebel Ali winner in the form of Amazon River, trained by Rashed Bouresly and the mount of Robbie Burke.

Satish Seemar trains Treachery who has form on the course and the benefit of apprentice Harry Bentley’s 3kg claim. Richard Mullen partners stable companion Saudi Summer who has struggled in two dirt appearances at Jebel Ali.

Heart Beat is a course and distance winner for Al Raihe and reunited with stable jockey Royston Ffrench but they have ground to make up on Watson’s Gulf of Gold who was nearly 10 lengths ahead of him when winning over course and distance in November.