satish seemar | Horse Racing Free Tips

Team Switzerland Hopes To Neutralize Foes In Riaydh Dirt Sprint

When the winner's enclosure cameras flash in Saturday's $1.5 million Riyadh Dirt Sprint, the team behind Switzerland is fully prepared to say cheese. Carrying the orange and black colors of HH Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi's RRR Racing, the son of Speightstown enters the tough contest as one of the serious players, thanks to a strong score in Meydan's G3 Dubawi on Jan. 21–his third victory at the level and sixth lifetime.

“He came out of the race in great shape,” said Bhupat Seemar, assistant trainer to Satish Seemar. “For us, that was only his first run–he was with Doug (Watson) before and obviously Steve Asmussen before that–so I can only say what we've seen from him and he's been very good in the mornings at Zabeel (Stables). He's a superb horse in the mornings and a flamboyant galloper. Mickael Barzalona galloped (breezed) him Monday morning and he was really happy with him. He will ride him in Saudi.”

Last year, the same connections entered Gladiator King–also fresh of G3 success in Dubai–to finish a respectable third in this. Gladiator King was astern Switzerland last out, obviously needing the run, but never seriously challenging his banner-mate when the real running commenced.

“I hope he travels well and everything just goes according to plan,” Seemar continued. “I think there are some tough horses in there, but I really like how Switzerland is doing. The really tough ones could be the Japanese, especially Matera Sky, who is very quick and a class horse. He was second in it last year and was second here in the (G1 Dubai Golden) Shaheen. He's fast and will be on the lead, so if he's let loose, he'll be tough to peg back.”

Strategy will definitely be paramount for the chocolate-brown Switzerland. Quick enough to go to the front, he showed a new dimension when stalking wide and free of sand last out. If he wishes for a replay of that scenario, the post position will be of utmost importance. The barrier draw takes place on Wednesday.

“One thing he doesn't want is cover,” Seemar explained. “If you look at all his winning races in America, he was always on the lead and didn't face a lot of kickback. He tried it here a couple times–to take back behind horses–and it just didn't work out for him. If they're going really fast on the lead, he can hopefully lay off them out of the kickback and come running again like he did at Meydan. The draw is obviously important, as well. I would like to be in the first four somewhere early.”

Having a live contender once again on Saudi Cup Day is quite an accomplishment for UAE's reigning champion training yard, proving once again that Dubai's premier horses can stack up against some of the very best in the world. Maintaining such company remains the goal after Saudi, as well, as Switzerland will surely be turning his watch ahead to Dubai World Cup Day and the $1.5 million Dubai Golden Shaheen.

Seemar: “We've been kind of lucky to be in this position. Last year, we had North America in the Saudi Cup and Gladiator King in the (Riyadh) Sprint, who was arguably the best sprinter in Dubai at the time. He got bumped in the race, which I think cost him second place, but he ran really well. The good thing is we've been there once and we know the script. We know what to do and what not to do, so we feel like we are in with a good chance with Switzerland.”

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Quip Adds Blinkers For Thursday’s Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2

Thursday's Group 2, $293,000 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 over 1900m (9.5 furlongs) has drawn a field filled with questions soon to be answered on the road to the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1). Many of those queries circulate around the conditions of the race, whether it be the dirt surface for turf-bred full-brothers Dubai Warrior and Mootasadir, class-level for Firnas, Mark of Approval and Ajuste Fiscal, or the distance for assumed milers Quip, Salute the Soldier, Thegreatcollection, Blown By Wind and Capezzano.

RRR Racing's 6-year-old Quip offers arguably the most intrigue on Thursday. A Satish Seemar trainee, the 2019 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) winner makes just his 15th start and second this season after finishing a non-threatening ninth last out in the Al Maktoum Challenge R1 (G2) at one mile. He does have a victory in lofty American company over nine furlongs, but has not raced to that form in three Dubai tries. That said, with his light campaigning, a fitness-building race under his belt and a change of equipment, it would not be a surprise to see him jump back into the win column.

“Quip is training really well,” said Bhupat Seemar, assistant trainer. “He has blinkers on the first time. All the speed horses are drawn on the inside, so it's unfortunately not the best draw in eight. With how he's training and what he does in the morning–if he can bring that in the evening–he's going to go very, very close. Hopefully that's what's going to happen.”

Drawn on the rail is the speed of the speed in the race, Capezzano, who has not shown much prowess beyond one mile since winning the 2019 Al Maktoum Challenge R3 (G1) over 10 furlongs and a speed-favoring course. In fact, his only performance to that level in five subsequent starts was a stakes record-setting win in last year's one-mile Firebreak (G3).

Meanwhile, ultra-consistent 2020 Burj Nahaar (G3) winner Salute the Soldier is racing 200m farther than he ever has for trainer Fawzi Nass and Doug Watson-trained Thegreatcollection steps up after a pair of career-best runs over one mile, including a second in Round 1.

“The post (seven) doesn't really matter too much with him, as I think they will spread out a bit,” Watson said. “I believe he will stay the trip. His dam won over 1800m.”

Blown By Wind is an unknown quantity over these conditions. A handicapper who consistently competed at a mile in the UK for Mark Johnston, he was turned over to Salem bin Ghadayer, who also trains Capezzano and Listed winner Firnas, and rewarded the yard with an overpowering four-length win in the Jebel Ali Mile (G3) in his second local start. Though his rating has inflated to 110, he must back it up while stretching out an additional 300m and against G2 company. He was flattered when the runner-up that day, Secret Ambition, returned to win last week's Firebreak (G3) by open lengths.

Much focus will be on Dubai Warrior, who leads the ratings at 115, but has never been tested on traditional dirt. A six-time winner on all-weather, including the G3 Winter Derby in 2020 over Saudi Cup-bound Bangkok, the John Gosden trainee must overcome a pedigree that appears a bit counterintuitive to the venture.

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Secret Ambition, Kimbear Renew Rivalry In Dubai This Thursday

Old rivals Secret Ambition and Kimbear spark anew their competitive relationship this Thursday in the Group 3 $130,000 Firebreak Stakes at Meydan Racecourse. Rated 109 and 108, respectively, the pair have faced off seven times, dating back to the 2018 Burj Nahaar (G3) when RRR Racing's (HH Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi) Kimbear defeated Nasir Askar's runner-up Secret Ambition.

In four of their seven meetings, they have finished adjacent on the results chart, including three one-two finishes. All in all, Kimbear has a 4-3 lead on his friendly foe.

“He's a nice horse and has always been great to train,” trainer Doug Watson said of Kimbear. “He drew the rail and we are putting the visor on him for the first time, so we'll likely go forward with him. He doesn't need the lead, but having the visor and the one-hole definitely gives away that we have to be up there. He needed that last race and that should have set him up for this. I'd like to think he will run well if all goes to plan and I hope he runs a good race.”

Overall, Kimbear has a record of 24-4-7-4 and has not won since the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge R1 13 months ago—a race in which he defeated Secret Ambition and North America by a pair of noses. He exits his first race in 10.5 months when an uninspired eighth of 11 in a defense attempt. Pat Dobbs will be aboard, as he has been in all 14 of his UAE starts.

Satish Seemar-trained Secret Ambition enters off a respectable second in the Jebel Ali Mile (G3) as the market favorite and wheels back on just 13 days. He must shake off his 'seconditis' to win on Thursday, as he has finished thus in four of his past five tries. Overall, the 8-year-old son of Exceed and Excel seeks his 10th victory in what will be his 40th start and breaks from the outside post in the sextet with leading rider Tadhg O'Shea.

“Secret Ambition is in good form,” said Bhupat Seemar, assistant trainer. “Hopefully he's recovered well from the Jebel Ali Mile. He doesn't have the best of draws in six out of six, but he was second in this last year (to Capezzano) and Secret Ambition never runs a bad race. With a bit of luck, he should win or be right there.”

Capezzano's trainer Salem bin Ghadayer starts Matterhorn, unraced since romping in the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 in March. The son of Raven's Pass has won nine of 22 and was third in this last year. Mickael Barzalona has the mount once again, with their only partnering being his last-out career-best performance. He leads the ratings at 113.

Multiple G3 winner Trancaferro (rated 106) will hope to continue the top form of Uruguayan trainer Antonio Cintra, who won last week's Al Bastakiya Trial with El Patriota. A stakes winner from 1800m to 2400m, Trancaferro will be traversing a trip below his optimal under Bernardo Pinheiro.

Hypothetical (97) has a great deal to find on ratings for the same Fazza Racing team as Matterhorn and exits a disappointing fourth in the Jebel Ali Mile. Oasis Charm (100) makes his dirt debut and appears to be using the race as a fitness builder for a turf return.

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Quip Takes On Defending Secret Ambition In Thursday’s Listed Dubai Creek Mile

Racing at Meydan Racecourse on Thursday evening, the track's final meeting of 2020, is presented by pillar partner Longines and features the Group 2 Madjani Stakes, the only Purebred Arabian race on the card, as well as the Listed Dubai Creek Mile, the Thoroughbred highlight.

Nine have been declared for the Listed Dubai Creek Mile presented by Longines, including last year's winner Secret Ambition, one of two in the field for Satish Seemar. The trainer landed the first two editions of this race, inaugurated in 2013, with Surfer, the only dual winner of the contest to date. As was the case 12 months ago, Tadhg O'Shea is in the saddle aboard the 7-year-old Exceed And Excel entire who was able to defy a penalty last year, an impost earned for his victory in the 2019 Group 3 Jebel Ali Mile.

“He does not have that extra burden here, though does have a smaller penalty, and O'Shea said: “We know conditions suit him and he showed last year that he can run well fresh, so the fact it is his first run of the season is not a great concern.

“It looks a strong renewal though, but I am hoping for a big run.”

Richard Mullen rides stable companion Quip, having his first start for the yard and just third in the UAE after two outings for Doug Watson last season. A dual G2 winner in the US, he obviously has plenty of ability and now has the advantage of a summer on his back to help his acclimatization

Assistant trainer, Bhupat Seemar, said: “He is a nice new horse for us who has been working well. He should improve for the run, but we are hoping for a good effort in a strong race.”

Second to Secret Ambition in this 12 months ago, Kimbear is one of three in this year's field set to be saddled by Doug Watson. The mount of Pat Dobbs, the 6-year-old Temple City entire then gained revenge on that rival, beating him by a short-head in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R1. Watson's charge's previous victory, on Super Saturday 2018, was also achieved at the expense of Secret Ambition, in the G3 Burj Nahaar.

Penalized for his Al Maktoum Challenge victory, he will be attempting to concede weight to all eight rivals and is joined in the field by stable companions Thegreatcollection and local debutant Mount Pelion. The former, the mount of Pat Cosgrave, is one of just three runners with the benefit of an outing already this season and was, arguably, a bit unlucky when fifth in this race last season.

Mount Pelion, a dual winner in France for Godolphin and Andre Fabre, has the assistance of Sam Hitchcott in the saddle for his dirt debut. He did win his only appearance on an all-weather surface, on debut as a 2-year-old, at Chantilly in November 2017.

Watson said: “Kimbear is a horse we have always really liked, but have had a few issues with. He is in great shape, but does have a penalty and will improve from the run.

“We have not been able to find a race for Mount Pelion, so this is a good spot to get him going and try him on the dirt surface.

“Thegreatcollection ran well on his return and like Kimbear is proven under these conditions. Hopefully they can all run well.”

With an official rating of 117, Capezzano should be a massive danger to all over the course and distance he won last year's G3 Firebreak Stakes, chased home by Secret Ambition. Salem bin Ghadayer's charge took the scalp of dual Dubai World Cup winner Thunder Snow when beating the Godolphin horse ahead of his historic second victory in the UAE's major horse race in the 2019 G1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3 over the same 2000m on Super Saturday. He also beat Thegreatcollection in a pair of Dubai World Cup Carnival handicaps over this 1600m in January 2019.

This is his first start since finishing stone last in the ultra-valuable Saudi Cup on the last day of February and Bin Ghadayer said: “The horses are starting to run very well and hopefully Capezzano can do the same as he has been working nicely at home.”

Casey Jones beat the aforementioned Thegreatcollection in a conditions race over this course and distance on their seasonal returns and was then third, over 2000m, in the Listed The Entisar, a fortnight ago. He is trained by Musabbeh Al Mheiri, as is Alkaamel, third in the race won by Casey Jones a month ago and again the mount of Dane O'Neill.

Al Mheiri said: “Casey Jones has already produced two good runs this season and we think is still improving.

“Alkaamel is also a course and distance winner and has benefitted from his run behind Casey Jones a month ago.”

For Fawzi Nass and Adrie de Vries, Salute The Soldier made a winning dirt debut on Super Saturday earlier this year with a smooth success in the G3 Burj Nahaar, over track and trip, on Super Saturday.

The 1900m G2 Madjani Stakes presented by Longines has attracted a capacity field of 16 and looks wide open. Riding for his main employer, UAE Champion Owner Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda, O'Shea partners AF Al Sajanjle for Ernst Oertel. The 7-year-old has not really fired in either start so far this season, but was a good third in the 1600m Al Maktoum Challenge R1 here at Meydan on dirt back in January.

O'Shea said: “He should be spot on for this after two runs and the 1900m should suit him.”

Watson saddles both Sauternes Al Maury, runner-up to stable companion Bon Baiser De Faust in the inaugural running of this race in 2016, and RB Texas Hold Em, a Grade One winner in his native US.

Watson said: “Sauternes Al Maury is always capable of a big run and has proved conditions suit him, but he is drawn very wide in a big field.

“We tried RB Texas Hold Em on turf which he seemed not to enjoy. He will be much happier back on dirt and has a nice draw.”

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