Selvaratnam looking to solve his problems

Sarah Tregoning

• Last Updated: November 20. 2009 2:06AM UAE / November 19. 2009 10:06PM GMT

Dhruba Selvaratnam will find out today whether months of nurturing have paid off when two of his talented but problematic runners take to the track for Jebel Ali’s third meet of the season.

The Sri Lanka-born trainer, who benefits from the services of the 21-year-old jockey William Buick, hit form last week at his home track with a double, a second and three thirds, from runners owned by Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid.

“So far so good,” said the handler. “I have a few decent chances coming up but these horses are coming back from some problems so we will see how they get on.”

Sheikh Ahmed’s Otaared, who gets his first start since October last year is one of these. He is of one nine runners in the Dh120,000 Shadwell Farm feature race over seven furlongs.

The four-year old has only had four starts, winning one, in England and came to Selvaratnam from the yard of Michael Jarvis.

“He’s a nice horse and he has some talent,” said the trainer. “But he’s running after a year off and he has had a lot of problems with stress fractures in his shins. I feel that he is ready and basically I had to give him a run.”

Otaared looks like he has some form to find when viewed among the other runners, but his chances will be increased significantly now that champion trainer, Doug Watson, has withdrawn the top-rated Masaalek.

Watson is not unrepresented however and has hopes for victory from Malih al Basti’s Dubai International Racing Carnival runner, Shopton Lane, and Royal Prince, owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed.

Selvaratnam also saddles Borehan on his seasonal debut in the next race on the card, the five-furlong Commercial Bank of Dubai, worth Dh80,000.

“He’s another who came to me with problems,” said Selvaratnam. “He’s had issues with his back.”

The six-year-old was the winner of a valuable Heritage Handicap at Newmarket in 2006 and performed well at the Carnival in Dubai last season. “He’s capable and can hold his own if he feels well,” said his handler.

He takes on Watson’s Alsadeek under Richard Mullen for owner al Basti, who won over a furlong further two weeks ago.

Another runner who could be rusty, Tawaassol – without a run for 245 days – also takes to the track under Tadhg O’Shea for owner Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid and trainer, Erwan Charpy.

The Watson and O’Shea team have designs on the Al Shafer Group seven-furlong opener.

The US-bred Bur Dubai, who was second to Ibn al Nafis over six furlongs at the first meet of the season looks a strong contender and his jockey, O’Shea, is hopeful of a winner.

“He should run a big race and the extra furlong should suit him,” he said O’Shea. “He ran well on his debut here and we’re looking for a good run from him to set us up for the rest of the day.”

Charles Dickens, a half brother to Sea the Stars, gets a second season start for trainer Rashid Bouresly and stablemate, Brave Mambo also goes under leading jockey, Wayne Smith.


stregoning@thenational.ae