Trackwork as of Tuesday, 26 March

26 March 2019, Du bai, UAE ~ $1 million Dubai Kahayla Classic (G1) sponsored by Mubadala

Al Shamoos—The grey mare Al Shamoos has really settled in well at Meydan and appeared very relaxed on the dirt track on Tuesday morning. The first of the French raiders to show, she did a light canter.

Rider Nuno Duarte said: “We did a steady canter, maybe a tiny bit faster than yesterday. She feels really good, she is a nice mare.”

Al Zahir and Barnamaj—The two Ali Rashid Al Rayhi-trained runners in the Group 1 Purebred Arabian showpiece are expected to breeze on Thursday.

“They have both trained well,” said Al Rayhi on Tuesday morning. “We’ve kept everything the same for them in respect to their preparation for this race.”

Al Zahir, the two-length winner of the HH President’s Cup on the Abu Dhabi turf course in February, has not raced on dirt since his ninth-placed effort in the Al Maktoum Challenge at the start of the year. He has been drawn in gate 1 for the big day. Stable companion, Barnamaj, a recent 10th in the Group 1 Emirates Championship at Abu Dhabi, will jump from a wider draw in gate 11.

“We are very happy with Al Zahir,” Al Rayhi said. “Barnamaj had an injury which he’s coming back from, so he will breeze on Thursday and then we will see. They will then both trot on Friday.”

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