The high-rated maiden, Surfer must overcome a draw from gate 13 if he is to claim his first career win at Meydan Racecourse tomorrow (Thursday) evening.
With the Commercial Bank of Dubai sponsoring the card, Surfer looks to represent the Pick 6 banker in the opening 1,600m maiden, where he faces 13 rivals.
Surfer’s handler, Satish Seemar, is in good form and has already saddled two maiden winners this season. Surfer finished last season, his first in the UAE, with an excellent second in the Listed Al Bastakiya, the middle race of the UAE Triple Crown. He had previously been fourth in the first round, the Group 3 UAE 2000 Guineas.
Stable jockey, Richard Mullen, is looking forward to getting back on the horse.
“We are drawn 13 which is far from ideal but he looks the class act in the race without a doubt. He has to be among the highest-rated maidens, certainly in the UAE and we just have to get that win on the board and build from there.
“Hopefully there are plenty of options for him at the Carnival and, with luck, we will not still be describing him as the best maiden in training after tomorrow.”
The main danger would appear to be Interpret, a half-brother to 2007 Dubai World Cup winner, Invasor, trained by Musabah Al Muhairi. He was a fast-finishing second on his recent debut behind Seemar’s Dubai Iconic. He will be ridden by Wayne Smith, who said: “He ran well first time but we have the worst draw in 14 and Surfer will obviously be very hard to beat.”
In the featured 1,600m handicap, Mullen and Seemar combine with Farrier, winner of his only previous start in a 1,400m course maiden in February. Mullen said: “He did it well enough first time in awful conditions and has done everything we have asked of him since. This is obviously a big step up against more experienced rivals but I am hoping he goes well as he is a horse we have always liked.”
Dane O’Neill has elected to ride Tanfeeth from four runners owned by his main employer, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who has a strong hand in the race.
Doug Watson saddles two runners and Pat Dobbs will be hoping he can get out in front on Famous Warrior who made all over course and distance in February 2011.
Seemar and Mullen also have Dubai Iconic, a 1,400m maiden winner already this season, in the preceding 1,600m handicap on what could be a prolific evening for the duo. Mullen said: “As with Farrier this is a big step up from maiden company but he works well and we will find out a lot about him.”
Again Al Muhairi and Smith appear to supply one of the main dangers in the shape of Maath Gool who arrives here having won on the Abu Dhabi turf on his seasonal return. Smith said: “He was a horse we always liked but missed all season two years ago and ran some good races last term. That was a pleasing win at Abu Dhabi and hopefully he can go well again.”
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