Cosmo Charlie makes his first appearance of the season at Meydan on Thursday as one of four Doug Watson runners in the featured 1,600-metre Conditions race.
The son of Stay Thirsty is the only three year old among the 11 runners and is the choice of Pat Dobbs, Watson's stable jockey, who has been atop in all his five starts, winning on debut at Meydan earlier this year as well as taking the Listed Al Bastakiya on Super Saturday.
Watson’s other runners are Faulkner, Etijaah and Layl.
“This looks a good spot to get them back in action,” he said. “Faulkner missed last season but has been pleasing us at home and it will be nice to see him back on the track, but if I had to pick one of the four, it would be Cosmo Charlie.
“Hopefully he is improving and he does seem in great form but they all do. We think they all should run well in a strong looking contest.”
Ahmad bin Harmash, Ali Rashid Al Raihi and Salem bin Ghadayer are all double-handed in the race with Satish Seemar as the only trainer with a solitary entry, Saltarin Dubai.
_____________________
Read more:
- Stewards award Muraaqib victory in Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown after 'bump' from RB Burn
- Pat Cosgrave guides Godolphin's Naaeebb to victory in Meydan's opener
_____________________
A Grade 1 winner in the USA, Saltrin Dubai failed to catch the eye in all four of his local starts when trained by South African Mike de Kock last season.
But with the benefit of a Dubai summer on his back, the five-year-old gelding by E Dubai should be fully acclimatised and ready to start a new journey with the Zabeel Stables trainer Seemar.
“He is a nice new horse in the yard but running over a trip as short as he has faced to date,” said assistant trainer Bhupat Seemar.
“It may be he is better over a bit further but for his first outing since February, this looks the ideal race for his comeback.”
Wild Dude, a two-time Grade 1 winner in the United States, carries the hopes of Bin Harmash. The seven year old is the choice of stable jockey Colm O’Donoghou on his second local start, whereas stable companion Ennobled Friend, the mount of Pat Cosgrave and third in this race last year, has already run twice this season.
“We were a bit disappointed with Ennobled Friend at Jebel Ali last week after his pleasing comeback and hope returning to Meydan for the first time this season will suit him,” said Bin Harmash.
“Wild Dude ran a solid race on his first start for us but has never run over as far as 1,600m so we will see how he goes. But both seem in good shape at home.”
