Ertijaal ‘to have a go at the dirt’ and could join Mike De Kock runner Mubtaahij at Dubai World Cup

Makes his first start on dirt in a 1,900-metre handicap on Thursday after a huge race on his debut in Dubai, having undergone the punishing quarantine required by De Kock’s South African imports, reports Geoffrey Riddle.

Ertijaal, ridden by Paul Hanagan, won the third horse race at the Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on Jan 7 , 2016. ( Pawan Singh / The National )

Mike De Kock already has Mubtaahij for the Dubai World Cup and by the end of Thursday night the South African trainer could well have a second runner in the feature on March 26.

Ertijaal makes his first start on dirt in a 1,900-metre handicap worth $US110,000 (Dh404,000).

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid’s four-year-old colt ran a huge race on his debut in Dubai, having undergone the punishing quarantine required by De Kock’s South African imports.

Read more: Thakif makes up for lost time to win President's Cup for Purebred Arabians

Ertijaal, not to be confused with Sheikh Hamdan’s sprinter of the same name, could not hold the lead from stable companion Forries Waltz who reeled him in and passed him in the Group 2 Al Rashidiya three weeks ago.

Afterwards De Kock was adamant that he had left a lot of work on Ertijaal, and that he displayed considerable inexperience against older, more battle-hardened horses.

Ertijaal is by American sire Hard Spun, and not only is he bred to run on the dirt of Meydan but his grinding style of racing suggested he can take the surface switch in his stride.

“Sheikh Hamdan is keen to have a go at the dirt,” De Kock said. “If he goes on dirt he is a serious runner for the World Cup. That said, it is a tough division this year, look at the horses coming out for it from America – it will be some race.”

Ertijaal won the Grade 1 Cape Derby in South Africa last season, and as such has to concede weight to his 13 rivals that includes Godolphin’s Let’s Go, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, and Charlie Appleby’s Cat O’Mountain.

Doug Watson, who has sent out seven winners from his past 32 runners in the last 14 days, will give the leg-up to Pat Dobbs aboard Faulkner, while Dhruba Selvaratnam’s Top Clearance was impressive last time when nailing American Hope 50m from the line.

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