Musir set for Meydan

Christophe Soumillon who led Musir to win the UAE Guineas G-3, the UAE Derby G-2, Al Maktoum Challenge R-1 Gr-3 and Al Rashidiya Gr-2, will be in the saddle.

Musir will be the one to watch out for. — KT file

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South African trainer Mike De Kock who has won this race last year with Viscount Nelson, in 2003 with IPI Tombe, in 2005 with Yard-Arm and in 2008 with Archipenko, saddles also Master of Hounds (Patrick Cosgrave) and Mushreq (Paul Hanagan) in a bid to claim his fifth title in the 14th running of the competition.

The home team will be represented by Mandaean (Mahmoud Al Zarooni/Mickael Barzalona) while Do IT All will carry the hopes of the Godolphin Al Quoz handler Saeed bin Suroor who landed the inaugural edition of the race with Grazalema (Richard Mullen), but he’s still seeking his second crown. The recently appointed Godolphin Al Marmoom trainer Mahmoud Al Zarooni is looking forward to win his first Al Al Fahidi Fort glory.

In the other feature of the night, the $200,000 Balanchine Gr-2, the Mike De Kock-trained 2012 heroine Igugu, makes her overseas debut in the silks of Shaikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum. The Australian-bred Galileo mare will be partnered by Christophe Soumillon and all indications suggest she will follow in the footsteps of Moon Dazzle, Irridescence, Sun Classique, River Jetez and Mahbooba who have won this race for De Kock since its inception in 2004.

De Kock said that Igugu was in great shape in his Dubai yard, despite a few hiccups during her arduous five month journey to get there. “But she has done very well since arriving in Dubai and we’ve had a free ride with her since then,” he added.

Once again, Saeed bin Suroor has won this race only once in 2004 with Gonfila (Frankie Dettori) and his best chance to win it again would the brilliant mare Sajjaa (Silvestre De Souza) who made it a winning UAE debut for her trainer in the Cape Verdi Gr-2 over course and distance late last month.

The race kick starts with the 1400m PA Bani Yas Gr-2 which has attracted a good field of 13 runners dominated with the silks of Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s Al Wathba Stables.

Thakif (Majid Al Jahouri/ Silvestre De Souza) looks good to reverse places with earlier conqueror Quite A Show (Doug Watson/ Paul Hanagan) with AF Al Ghabra (Gillian Duffield/ Richard Mullen) poses the only danger.