Saayerr, winner of the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Glorious Goodwood last year under trainer William Haggas, will be an interesting newcomer to watch when he makes his local debut in today’s featured race at the Jebel Ali meeting.
A winner of three races in seven starts in the UK, he looks a bright prospect for Dhruba Selvaratnam, who trains on the track for his main patron, Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid.
The three-year-old gelded son of Acclamation heads the weights as he tackles seven others for the first time on dirt in a Handicap rated 90-110 over the 1,400-metre distance.
Saayerr will face strong challenge from a couple of course and distance winners, Encipher and Asatir, and the leading trainer Doug Watson’s pair, Shebibi and Shamaal Nibras.
Encipher was an impressive course and distance winner four weeks ago and his jockey, Royston Ffrench, said: “That was a good win last time. He goes particularly well at Jebel Ali, where he loves the dirt surface. Hopefully, he is the one they all have to beat.”
Wayne Smith retains the ride on the Erwan Charpy-trained Asatir after they were successful at Jebel Ali’s opening meeting on November 27.
“He will have improved for that outing, as he had been off the track a long time,” Smith said.
“They went very quick that day, which really helped him as he stays further. This is a better race, but at least we know the surface is not an issue and he retains plenty of ability.”
Doug Watson, who leads the trainer’s championship with 13 winners, said he believes his two runners can benefit from their previous starts in the season.
“I think Shebebi will run well,” Watson said. “He improved a lot from his first run back at Meydan to finish a close fourth at Jebel Ali two weeks ago. He is working well and should be competitive.
“Shamaal Nibraas ran really well twice at Jebel Ali last season. So we know the surface and hill are not going to be an issue for him. His first outing this season was excellent, but he ran a bit flat second time.
“We have freshened him up and he seems in great form.”
apassela@thenational.ae
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