He's baaaaack!!!
Good luck to Dynamic Saint!
Watson bids to celebrate Thanksgiving in style
American trainer Doug Watson hopes to celebrate Thanksgiving Day in style by taking the AED110,000 Mustaqbali Trophy, the highlight of the Commercial Bank of Dubai-sponsored card at Nad Al Sheba tomorrow night.
With only six declared, Watson’s Dynamic Saint could be the one to beat in the 2000m conditions race, although stable companion Elmustanser, returning from a lay-off, has an undoubted touch of class.
Just four-years-old and having only his eighth start, Dynamic Saint took the Winter Racing Challenge Final (2000 metres) last season before winning at the 2007 Dubai International Racing Carnival.
Owned by HE Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed al Maktoum, he is the mount of Ted Durcan who is looking forward to reacquainting himself with the horse.
He said: “I sat on him the other morning and he was in great form. He has really strengthened up over the summer and Doug is delighted with him. Doug has found an ideal race for his return and he should go well.”
Elmustanser, who was last in the 2005 Dubai World Cup (a race won by his full-brother Almutawakel in 1999) and placed in two runnings of the concluding round of the Group 2 Maktoum Challenge, could pose a danger
Watson is glad to have him back on the track after missing last season, saying: “He has had a long break but hopefully we have him back near his best. Obviously he will improve for the run and I am looking forward to running them both.
“Dynamic Saint is an exciting prospect and the first time we have really been able to nurture a good, young horse throughout his career. If Sheikh Rashid agrees, the Jebel Ali Stakes and Dubai International Racing Carnival would be likely options.”
Racing opens with the second most valuable race on the card, a AED 70,000 race for Purebred Arabians in which Eric Lemartinel’s Daffah will be hard to beat if adapting to dirt.
If Daffah does not handle the surface, Satish Seemar’s quartet of Royal Epic, Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs and Van Nistelrooy look the most likely winners. Slight preference is for the last-named – one of three named by HE Sheikh Rashid after Manchester United players, though now plying his trade in Spain.