Former Godolphin manager Simon Crisford steps into trainer’s boots for Qatar Racing

Debut in his new role will be at the Dubai World Cup Carnival with realistic hopes on Knavery as his employers seek to open the account at Meydan.

Former Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford. Getty Images

It will be a bit like old times.

The blazer, the Wayfarer sunglasses tucked away somewhere after sundown and most likely a pocket handkerchief to match his tie.

It is a look often seen in the racing world while Simon Crisford was racing manager for Godolphin.

There is US$700,000 (Dh2.6m) up for grabs at Meydan Racecourse tonight and Crisford, now a trainer, is gunning for $60,000 of it.

Crisford has chosen Dubai to send out his first runner as a public trainer, having set up a racing operation in Newmarket, England, that numbers 40 horses in training. He left Godolphin last year.

The ownership of his first runner may raise eyebrows, with the gold braid of Qatar Racing set to be worn by jockey Oisin Murphy aboard the American-bred Knavery in the 1,900-metre dirt handicap.

The four-year-old colt, who was formerly handled in England by Roger Varian, is the only horse Crisford has in training in Dubai, where he has been using the Metropolitan track.

It is a proud moment for Crisford. His career took off in Dubai after he received a call from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in 1989, eventually becoming Godolphin’s racing manager.

“I always wanted to be a trainer, and it is nice to get around to doing it and have a new challenge,” the 52-year-old Englishman said.

“It is great to have my first runner here. Dubai has been such a big part of my life for so long.”

Qatar Racing have yet to put down a flag in the UAE. Their silks have been carried to post 15 times, with Trade Storm’s second place in the Zabeel Mile last season the best result Sheikh Fahad bin Hamad’s team have recorded at Meydan.

Crisford does not envisage that he will provide the Qatari owner with a landmark winner at Meydan tonight.

The handicap, which is the first non-Carnival thoroughbred race to be staged on a Carnival card since 2007, has attracted eight other runners, most of whom will be saddled by domestic trainers.

Ismail Mohammed, who switches between Dubai and Newmarket, will send out Stormardal, while the only other international runner is Tonabrocky, who is trained by Fawzi Nass.

Knavery is not fully tuned up for his assignment, and the trainer hopes his charge might show his true colours later on in the campaign.

“The horse is bred for racing on this type of surface and has been training on a dirt surface really well,” he said.

“He has to prove he gets the distance, and prove that he goes on the surface in a race.

“He is not 100 per cent wound up, and whatever he does he will improve for. I don’t think you will be able to judge him properly until his second run.”

Follow us on Twitter at SprtNationalUAE