Stoute's Dubai hopes rest on Maraahel
Michael Stoute will bid to get his 2005 campaign off to a good start in Dubai on Saturday night when he saddles Maraahel in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Nad al Sheba.
Stoute’s season could hardly have begun on a worse note when he learned last month that stable jockey Kieren Fallon had resigned in order to take up a new position in Ireland with Aidan O’Brien.
But hopes are high coming into Saturday’s race that things can get back on track when Maraahel takes to the track under Richard Hills for a race the rider won three years ago for owner Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum aboard Nayef.
Maraahel, the winner of the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood last year, has not been seen since finishing fourth to Rule of Law in the St Leger.
But the colt is expected to give a bold showing on his first start of the year, according to Stoute.
“I think it’s a very tough race but he is a progressive horse who is very consistent and I think he’ll run a big race,” said the trainer today.
“He ran a big race in the Leger but he emptied coming towards the furlong-pole. We weren’t sure about the trip for him that day and it just found him out but it was still a very good run.”
Referring to whether he planned to appoint a replacement for Fallon, Stoute confirmed recent reports that he would be using a ’best available’ policy.
“We’ll have to see who’s nice to us and who’s not,” Stoute smiled. “Michael Kinane is a jockey who has been lucky for us in the past and we will use him when he is available but he already has a deal with John Oxx.”
Maraahel is a best-priced 12-1 chance with Coral for the race, with fellow British challenger Phoenix Reach a fraction of those odds at just 4-1.
The Andrew Balding-trained five-year-old, the winner of the Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin in December, completed his preparations for the race despite a brief hitch when rider Martin Dwyer took a wrong turn on the way back to the quarantine area.
“It was a bit of a mishap – he went missing in action for a while when the jockey managed to mistake an exit,” said the trainer.
“He ended up about three miles away from where he should have been but the horse seemed to enjoy the stroll and there’s no harm done.
“I think he’s got a bit to do from his wide draw but he’s a very talented horse and he’s been working with a lot of enthusiasm at the moment.”
Favourite for the Sheema Classic is Godolphin’s Cherry Mix, second in the Arc de Triomphe last season but a flop on dirt when making his debut for new connections.
“He didn’t take to the dirt but if the real Cherry Mix is back then he should have an excellent chance,” reported jockey Frankie Dettori.
