Watson’s Nyaar stands out at Meydan

Ed Marnane

Racing makes a welcome return at Meydan on Friday, the opening fixture of 2026-27 Dubai Racing Carnival at the UAE’s iconic track.

Former UAE champion trainer Doug Watson has made a terrific start to the new campaign, a double at Jebel Ali on Saturday took his tally to four winners already for the new season.

Operating at an impressive 28% strike-rate, he saddles Nyaar, the mount of Pat Dobbs, in Race 5, the AED 250,000 (R1.1m) Handicap, the most valuable event on the programme.

US-bred Nyaar has a solid record at Meydan, his latest victory coming in a competitive handicap over the track eight months ago. He holds sound claims from a yard in cracking form.

In an open-looking event, top-weight Royal Favour is one to consider returning from an 11-month break. Trained by Simon Crisford, he must concede to his six rivals but is very unexposed and is suited by the conditions.

Crisford has a smart record with horses back after a lengthy layoff and can be trusted to have the gelding primed and ready.

Progressive Sirocco Winds, winner of two of his four races, makes plenty of appeal and is open to more improvement on his seasonal debut. Formerly trained by Musabbeh Al Mheiri, he has joined Bhupat Seemar and impressed winning a 16-runner handicap over the track from a poor draw on his final appearance last season.

Racing gets underway with a 1200m conditions race, in which Ed Crisford saddles Midland Money. It his first runner in the Emirates since being appointed private trainer at Jebel Ali Stables in April, replacing Michael Costa who returned to Australia after four years in the role. He has the services of top-class rider Oisin Murphy, Jebel Ali Stables’ retained rider for the season.

Rated 112, he struggled in the Group 1 Golden Shaheen behind Dark Saffron, trailing in 14 lengths behind the shock winner. Midland Money began his career in the USA with Bob Baffert and if he recaptures his second in the Malibu Stakes (Grade 1) last December, he will be hard to beat.

In a race that not many hold obvious claims, Doug Watson’s course specialist Colour Money clearly merits respect. Dobbs’ mount has a good record from a break and is a leading player on his first run of the season.

Race 3, the opening two-year-old contest of the new season, has attracted 10 runners, and Crisford and Murphy team up with the once-raced Jeyoush. He showed minor promise on his racecourse debut at Nottingham in August, before stepping up on that effort when impressing in a barrier trial at Meydan last month.

Being by US sire Girvin out of a dirt winner, it was understandable Jeyoush enjoyed the switch to dirt, and a wide draw should not be an obstacle.

Dobbs is an interesting booking for Hidden Layers, trained by Jamie Osborne who enjoyed a productive campaign in the Emirates last season. He was slowly away and ran green on his racecourse debut at Wolverhampton, but shaped like he would benefit greatly for the experience.

Osborne has a decent record with his juveniles at Meydan, and being by US sire Complexity he should enjoy running on dirt.

Ops, Tadhg O’Shea’s choice from the Bhupat Seemar-trained pair, demands respect on his racecourse debut. He was entitled to need the experience of his recent barrier trial and looks significant O’Shea, the 12-time UAE champion, has chosen the colt, as his stable companion Blanc Canvas, the mount of Ray Dawson, shaped nicely in another barrier trial at Meydan last month.

Race 6, the 1400m maiden, looks a good opportunity for Marsood to shed his maiden tag at the fourth time of asking for Ed Crisford. Owned by ARM Racing, he was highly tried in three runs last season, highlighted by his close third behind Raajehh in a decent event at Meydan 12 months ago.

He is lightly raced and confirmed his well-being when a comfortable winner under tender handling of barrier trial last month. He is the one to beat.

A field of six go to post for Race 2, the three-year-old conditions race on dirt. Osborne’s 100-rated Ten Carat Harry, a progressive sprinter in Britain earlier in the year, makes his local/dirt debut and has the assistance of Dobbs.

Not seen since finishing third behind the brilliant US sprinter Bacio at Royal Ascot, he is one to oppose at a short price with doubts about his ability to handle the surface and fitness.

Union Security, a winner on his racecourse debut, over the same course and distance, last season will enjoy the drop in grade and should be hard to beat. It was encouraging his trainer, Ahmed bin Harmash, was among the winners at Jebel Ali’s first fixture of the season on Saturday.

 

Best Bet

Race 6 No 10 Marsood

Best Value

Race 4 No 4 Valdivia

Best Swinger

Race 5: 4 Sirocco Winds and 1 Royal Favour

 

 

JACKPOT

(Races 4-7)

R54

Leg 1: 1, 2, 4

Leg 2: 1, 4

Leg 3: 7, 10, 12

Leg 4: 1, 2, 9