Mubakker wins feature as Shadwell and Watson seal Meydan doubles

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Plenty of 2022 Dubai World Cup Carnival clues were on offer as the Dubai Racing Club hosted its fourth meeting of the season where Shadwell scored a smart double courtesy of WinStar Farm’s star stallion, Speightstown.

Top-ranked in his siring crop every season, two of Speightstown’s offspring, Mubakker, and Mogarrab, delivered top drawer performances to join a shortlist of horses who are being seen as hopefuls for the Carnival, which begins on January 13.

Mubakker was particularly impressive, shrugging off a 245-day break from racing, to win the featured 1,200 metre DP World UAE Sprint in the hands of Shadwell jockey, Dane O’Neil.

He was chased home by the Musabeh Al Mheiri-trained duo, On The Warpath and Vasari, but never looked like getting beat.

“He’s a nice sprinter who probably goes further, he might even get a mile,” said Doug Watson.

“He relaxes so nicely but we have no plans with him yet.

“But look he’s a super horse. He’s had his problems, he’s not a ballerina but he trains well and I thought we might be a little short with 60 kilos on tonight but he ran well and has given us a little confidence for bigger things ahead. Perhaps the Carnival.”

If Mubakker was impressive then so was Mogarrab, who pleased his jockey Antonio Fresu after romping home a four and a quarter length winner of the Jebel Ali Port Handicap over 1,400.

Unsuccessful since landing a novice stakes event on the Tapeta all-weather track at Wolverhampton in 2018, Mogarrab discovered a new vein of form on the Meydan dirt as he went to the front at the 300 metre marked and stretched out in promising style.

“He’s a really nice horse who needed this win,” said Fresu. “Musabeh has been very patient with him and we came here with a lot more confidence as he has been training well.”

Champion trainer Watson was completing a meet double having earlier in the evening been victorious in the 1600 metre Mina Rashid handicap with Sendeed, a horse who also looks headed for the carnival.

Meanwhile, Zabeel Stables handler Bhupat Seemar maintained his strong form with a pair of contrasting wins through Al Maroom, a neck winner of the JAFZA Maiden and Discovery Island who wrapped up proceedings by taking the concluding race of the evening, the Marfa Deira handicap over 1,200 metres.

“She came here with a great chance and fully deserved that,” said apprentice Sean Kirrane. “Let’s see how she fares when she steps up to handicap company. But hopefully, she can win some more races there. A mile will be the optimum.”