Gulf of Gold will be trying to go three from three for the season when he bolts from the starting gates at Sharjah Racecourse's third meeting today.
The Doug Watson-trained horse is partnered once again by Tadhg O'Shea who was on board for Gulf of Gold's last Sharjah victory, on November 20.
Watson said winning will be a harder task this time because the horse is carrying 60.5kg over the 2,000m handicap today, as opposed to 57.5kg in November.
"He has another seven pounds this time," Watson said. "Last time it was a little bit easier for him but we are still hopeful."
One competitor who bears a far lighter load is Skycruiser, the mount of the English apprentice jockey, Harry Bentley.
Skycruiser had several placed efforts but no victories in his first 16 runs before finally winning a race when partnered with new UAE arrival Bentley at Sharjah last month. Trained by Satish Seemar, Skycruiser followed up with a respectable fifth at Meydan Racecourse and was only one length away from the winner, Game Stalker.
With Bentley claiming 3kg, Skycruiser, who has been given 56.5kg will actually race with just 53.5kg on his back.
"You've got to think he's in with a chance, certainly," said Bentley, who has already had four winners since arriving in the country at the start of November.
"He's had three good runs and now that he's got his head in front he seems to have figured out what it's all about. I do think he is capable of winning another."
Seemar also saddles Radegund Abbey, another horse with winning form at Sharjah Racecourse, having triumphed there last time for Zabeel's first jockey, Richard Mullen. Kiwi Moon, with Wencelas Walter in the irons, completes Seemar's trio of runners. Also, Erwan Charpy's Contretemps, second to Gulf of Gold in his last outing, is having another crack at the Watson runner.
The card is peppered with live chances for Seemar and another comes for Montmorency in the 1,200m sprint handicap worth Dh65,000.
Mullen rides the Meydan Racecourse winner while Anthony Manuel is giving a second run of the season to Princess Rose Anne, an interesting mare who has won on every racing surface including snow.
Partnered by Ted Durcan she goes for a first win at Sharjah Racecourse after finishing third at Jebel Ali on her first outing of the season. Always Emirates, from Musabah al Muhairi's yard, a recent Meydan Racecourse winner, renews his rivalry with Ali Rashid al Raihe's AB Include, who he beat into second.
Schedule
What: Seven races, purebred Arabians and thoroughbreds
When: 2pm-5pm today
Where: Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club
Admission: Free
