Jazeerat and Elmalak in thick of it

ABU DHABI // Sunday is the penultimate meeting of the 2008-09 season in the capital with a six-race card highlighted by the Group 3 Arabian Triple Crown Round 3 - the concluding leg of the series. Run over the marathon trip of 12 furlongs, it has attracted a small but select field of five headed by Jazeerat Alsadyaat, who won the middle round over a furlong shorter three weeks ago.

He will be ridden this evening by Daragh O'Donohoe and again faces his stable companion Elmalak Elwaheed, the only filly in the race, who chased him home last time. She will again be ridden by Richard Mullen and has beaten her stable companion in the past, and Simpson expects it to be close between them. "She is better off at the weights this time and was staying on last time," he said. "I expect both of them to stay the extra furlong and we have two live chances."

The Samir Hawaa-trained Ibn Abeya - fourth in that race last time but who beat Jazeerat Alsadyaat the week before in the UAE Derby - looks the main danger. The 1300m Thoroughbred handicap has attracted a maximum field of 12, including several last seen at Nad Al Sheba contesting valuable prizes at the Carnival. The Musabah Al Muhairi-trained duo of Taqseem and Machynleth can run well, while Doug Watson is well on the way to defending his trainers' title and both New Jersey and Daybreak Dancer should go well.

Erwan Charpy has five runners with Minted and Tawaash making most appeal. Gill Duffield's Mooser should go close in the opening 11-furlong handicap under Ted Durcan, while Mullen should go close on Jaci Wickham's Wadhah W'Rsan in the first 11-furlong maiden. Eric Lemartinel's Rakeel, under Tadhg O'Shea, looks the one to beat in the second such race. [e-mail]