Paul Hanagan is looking forward to renewing his association with Mushreq as the two bid to defend their title in the Singspiel Stakes on the opening Dubai World Cup Carnival card at Meydan on Thursday.
Mushreq was one of 14 entries yesterday in the Listed race over 1,800 metres on the turf track, while Hanagan also could partner Royal Ridge, also trained by Mike De Kock and owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid, in the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round One over 1,600 metres on the dirt track.
The retained rider for Sheikh Hamdan made his comeback from a broken collarbone at Abu Dhabi on Sunday, when he partnered two mounts without success.
It was the first time he had ridden competitively since he was involved in a five-horse pile-up at Wolverhampton Racecourse in Britain on November 6, in which jockey Richard Kingscote sustained injuries from which he is still recovering.
Hanagan underwent intensive physiotherapy before he arrived in Dubai before Christmas, and he has been swimming extensively in a bid to be ready for the 10-meeting extravaganza.
“I had nearly two months off, which was frustrating because the first time I broke my collar bone about eight years ago it only took four weeks,” Hanagan said.
“I couldn’t get anything done – there is not a lot you can do with a broken collar bone.
“There was a lot of bruising down my arm and chest.”
Hanagan rode 18 winners in the UAE last season, before he embarked on a golden season in which he rode Taghrooda to win the English Oaks and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, as well as Mukhadram to victory in the Coral Eclipse Stakes.
“Mushreq would be near the top of my list of horses I was looking forward to riding during the Carnival,” Hanagan added. “If I could have a season like last year’s every year I would be very happy. Sheikh Hamdan had such good horses and has some great ones to look forward to this season as well.”
Meydan stages a seven-race card on Thursday, and although the Al Maktoum Challenge Round One for Purebred Arabians carries a purse of only US$55,000 (Dh202,000) it is the classiest event on the card as the only Group One race.
Fresh from saddling the one-two in the Arabian Triple Crown Round One on Sunday, new Al Asayl trainer Salem Al Ketbi has entered Richlore, Burj Khalifa and Callateral, while Majed Al Jahouri has entered five.
Purebred Arabian racing received a huge boost after it was announced on Monday that IPIC had become the first company to sponsor two races on Dubai World Cup night.
IPIC already sponsor the Al Quoz Sprint, but in March the petrol company’s name will be added to the Dubai Kahayla Classic, which will now carry a purse of $1 million. The traditional curtain-raiser to Dubai World Cup night was previously worth $250,000.
The hike in prize money puts the Kahayla Classic alongside the Godolphin Mile, Dubai Gold Cup and Al Quoz Sprint and takes the total prize-money on Dubai World Cup night to $30 million.
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