Tadgh O’Shea
The Irishman’s collaboration with Ernst Oertel led to UAE championships for each last season. O’Shea arrives in the Emirates after a disappointing European campaign; he rode only seven winners from 137 rides for Jimmy Long’s Thistle Bloodstock. O’Shea will not lack for fine rides here as Oertel’s No 1 choice, when he is not on duty for the Al Asayl Stables.
Richard Mullen
The Briton first arrived in Dubai in 1998 to ride for Godolphin. He now is the stable jockey for Satish Seemar’s Zabeel Stables. Mullen rode 26 winners last season. With Seemar’s horses returning to top form, he is sure to be churning out more winners. His 2012/13 highlight: winning the US$2 million (Dh7.3m) Dubai Golden Shaheen on Seemar’s Reynaldothewizard.
Wayne Smith
The 2011 UAE jockeys’ champion has a strong partnership with the Emirati trainer Musabah Al Muhairi and Oasis 1 Stables, and it appears he will have some exciting new horses to ride. Smith is remembered for providing the South African Mike De Kock with his first big win on Victory Moon in the UAE 2000 Guineas and following it up with success in the UAE Derby.
apassela@thenational.ae
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