A two-day Meydan double for James Doyle

Dubai // It has been a productive Meydan Racecourse weekend for trainer Dhruba Selvaratnam and his stable jockey James Doyle, who combined with Roicead to win the 1,200-metre turf handicap, 48 hours after United Color's big race win on Thursday.

An excellent fourth at the opening meeting of the Dubai World Cup Carnival, over 1,000m on turf, Doyle's mount was always prominent in Saturday night's race before showing excellent acceleration 300m out. The pair shot clear and were never going to be caught.

Selvaratnam was not surprised.

“We thought he would win with this 200 metres in his favour and taking a drop in class,” he said. “It has been a good weekend for the whole team.”

Riding for his main employer, Sheikh Hamdan, Paul Hanagan won the 1,400m handicap on the Ali Rashid Al Raihe-trained Mundahesh, posting his second course and distance victory of the season.

“I was drawn wide, so delighted to get across and track a decent gallop,” Hanagan said. “When I asked, he quickened nicely and I was confident from a fair way out.”

Owner and jockey wasted little time completing doubles, with Jawhar breaking the track record when winning the following 1,600m turf handicap for trainer Doug Watson, who also saddled the runner-up Oasis Dancer.

A furious early gallop certainly helped produce the fast time, and Hanagan said: “They went very quickly, which was perfect for me as my horse won over 2,000 metres here last year and needs every yard of this 1,600 metres.

“That was why I wanted to go for home early in the straight as I knew he would run on strongly all the way to the line.

“Luckily, the post appeared just in time for us to hang on.”

The meeting opened with a 1,900m maiden on the Tapeta and Exploratory made his local debut a winning one, ridden by Adrie de Vries for his main employer, Ahmad bin Harmash.

“He is a young horse having only his third career start and hopefully he can progress,” Dutchman De Vries said. “It was not a great race, but he showed a willing attitude, which has to be a positive.”

The trainer later completed a 1,900m Tapeta double with the smooth victory of Ducab in the concluding handicap with jockey Mickael Barzalona producing his mount to lead 300m out, having been last as the runners turned for home.

They surged clear to win easily.

Champion trainer Ernst Oertel saddled Touch Gold to win the 1,600m handicap and provided apprentice Daniel Muscutt with his first UAE winner, on his sixth ride, in the process.

The horse was also opening his local account after a run of seconds and thirds.

“The horse deserved that and it is a great result for me as well, obviously,” Muscutt said. “I thank everyone involved for this exciting opportunity.”

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