Trainers Ernst Oertel and Rashid Ali Al Raihe continue rivalry at Meydan

Trainers Ernst Oertel and Ali Rashid Al Raihe continue their personal battle when Oertel's Ganus runs in a Dubai World Cup Carnival sprint also contested by Al Raihe's Tamaathul.

Ganas aims to continue trainer Ernst Oertel's good run when he takes to Meydan for a Dubai World Cup Carnival sprint race.

This has been a fine season for Ernst Oertel's state-of-the-art Al Asayl facility outside Abu Dhabi and the South African trainer bids to register another Dubai World Cup Carnival success at Meydan Racecourse on Thursday.

Oertel was in fine form on Sunday when he sent out three winners in the colours of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, President of the UAE, and it may have been a fourth had the saddle not slipped on Callateral in the opening race.

Oertel, who recorded his maiden Carnival success when Capital Attraction outpointed the Macau raider Elderly Paradise last week, is in the hunt once more with Ganas.

The five year old has been entered in the US$100,000 (Dh367,000) sprint over six furlongs and will carry the colours of Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa.

A feature of this season has been the duel in the trainers' standings between Oertel and Ali Rashid Al Raihe, the reigning UAE champion, who trails Oertel in terms of winners 23-22.

Al Raihe has entered Tamaathul, the five-year-old grey that decimated 15 rivals in the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire Handicap over six furlongs last week and Garbah, another five-year-old who was fourth in Abu Dhabi last month.

Oertel has entered only one on the six-race card, in comparison to Al Raihe who has entered seven, including Naseem Alyasmeen in the Group 2 Cape Verdi, restricted to fillies and mares. Al Raihe struck 12 months ago with the outsider First City, who got up by a nose to defeat Mike De Kock's well regarded Mahboba on the line.

Naseem Alyasmeen, owned by Jaber Abdulla, is one of only 10 entered to chase the US$200,000 prize, including De Kock's Amanee, who was 13th of 16 behind Le Drakkar on the opening night of the Carnival.

Godolphin's Saeed bin Suroor has entered three with Sajjhaa, Dark Orchid and Spellwork, while Mahmoud Al Zarooni could be represented by Falls Of Lora.

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