High hopes for Meshakal on Meydan return

Bin Ghadayer-trained Shmardal colt, with Ziani on board, is one to beat despite Saudi Derby disappointment

Meshakel during trackwork ahead of the Saudi Cup races. Reuters

Meshakal returns to the more familiar territory of Meydan on Thursday after a disappointing tenth place in the Saudi Derby in Riyadh three weeks ago.

The Salem bin Ghadayer-trained Shmardal colt takes on six others in the 1,600-metre conditions contest for three-year-olds, the highlight of the six-race card.

A winner of a 1,400m maiden in January and runner up in the Group 3 UAE 2000 Guineas three weeks later – both at Meydan – Meshakal under Xavier Ziani is the highest-rated runner and the one to beat.

“I rode him at Jebel Ali on his local debut when the 1,200m was too short, but he battled on well,” Ziani said.

“He is a decent horse and this looks an ideal opportunity for him. The Saudi Derby was three weeks ago and he has had a nice break since, so hopefully, is going to be the horse the others have to beat.”

Fawzi Nass' Mayehaab makes a quick reappearance after his run in the Listed Al Bastakiya, the UAE Derby trial, at Meydan's Super Saturday meeting.

That was his dirt debut, on his fourth start, and Adrie de Vries is in the saddle for the first time since a winning 1,400m Meydan turf debut in the middle of February.

Rashed Bouresly relies on Hawa Bilady who lost his maiden tag in a 1,200m Jebel Ali conditions race last Friday.

“Our horses have been running well this season and this horse is a nice one,” Bouresly said of the American bred Shanghai Bobby colt.

“He has run well on turf as well as dirt, but this will be the longest trip over which he has raced. We hope it will suit him.”

Zhou Storm won his first two starts but hasn’t prospered in the last three, including finishing behind Meshakel in the UAE 2000 Guineas and well beaten by Hawa Bilady at Jebel Ali last weekend.

Doug Watson saddles a pair in the silks of the Al Rashid Stables. Anbar is the choice of stable jockey Pat Dobbs while Sam Hitchcock is on board Al Baqar.

Completing the line-up is Ismail Mohammed’s Miami Joy making his local debut under Jim Crowley.

He was beaten on his sole turf outing in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket but the colt won three of his four UK starts on all-weather surfaces.

Godolphin has a trio in the 2,000m handicap that has attracted the maximum allowed field of 16.

Saeed bin Suroor is double handed with Bright Start and Real World, while Charlie Appleby saddles Saqqara King.