Sean Tarry got off the mark in Dubai with his first runner when National Colour won a Conditions Sprint at Nad Al Sheba in 2007.
The South African trainer does not envision a similarly rewarding effort from Heavy Metal, the Durban July winner who makes his first start in the UAE at Meydan Racecourse on Thursday.
The five-year-old gelding was declared on Tuesday alongside 13 others for the Al Fahidi Fort, a Group 2 turf contest staged over 1,400 metres. Heavy Metal has come to Dubai the long way, accompanying Mike de Kock’s legion of thoroughbreds that made their way from South Africa via Mauritius and England for a gruelling quarantine procedure. Heavy Metal has not run since propelling S’manga Khumalo to become the first black rider to win South Africa’s most iconic all-age Grade 1 handicap six months ago.
Although Tarry toyed with calling for Khumalo for his first ride at Meydan, Dubai regular Johnny Geroudis will be in the saddle for Thursday’s feature.
“I last saw Heavy Metal in quarantine in August,” Tarry said from Cape Town, having returned from a five-day visit to the UAE.
“Considering what he has been through in terms of travel, I am quite pleased with him. I am satisfied with his coat, I like how he is moving and his weight is good and he is eating well.”
Heavy Metal completed his preparation for the US$250,000 (Dh918,287) contest with a gallop over the 1,200m on the Meydan turf on Saturday.
Although the Durban July is staged over 2,200m, and Heavy Metal’s other win at the highest level was over 200m shorter, Tarry has no concerns about how his charge will deal with the drop in distance.
“He’s won over a mile, so it is not an absurd distance, but it is certainly short for him,” Tarry said.
“You have to look at the opportunity, and it is a reasonable place to start and if he finishes the race off well, I will be more than happy.
“I am not expecting to win, but if he runs into the money or happens to win, it will be a bonus. There is a lot of money on offer and he might just get a piece of the pie.”
Frankie Dettori, set to ride Mshawish in the same race for Al Shaqab, Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad’s new international racing operation, received a huge boost on Tuesday when Al Asayl confirmed the former Godolphin jockey would ride Battle Of Marengo for the duration of his Dubai World Cup Carnival campaign.
Battle Of Marengo, who was bought by Al Asayl in the summer with a view to running in the Dubai World Cup on March 29, is slated to make his UAE debut in the second round of the Al Maktoum Challenge on February 6. Dettori has not ridden since breaking his ankle before the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October, but is set to make his comeback today at Lingfield in England.
“Al Asayl were looking for a jockey with a lot of top-level experience, which is hard on my stable jockey Tadhg O’Shea, who does all the work in the mornings,” trainer Ernst Oertel said.
“Frankie has confirmed he can ride for the duration of the Carnival. If Sheikh Joaan develops a World Cup contender, he is likely to keep with the jockey who has ridden the horse before.”
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