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29 March 2024

Seemar ready for Terrific Challenge at the World Cup

A runner warming up for Dubai World Cup night at Meydan Racecourse yesterday morning. (SUPPLIED)

Published
By Allaam Ousman

Former champion UAE horse trainer Satish Seemar was confident that Terrific Challenge would bring glory to Zabeel connections on Dubai World Cup night in the Al Quoz Sprint.

The former Group One runner earned an invitation to race in the 1,200m turf race on Saturday after Irish jockey Ted Durcan spurred Terrific Challenge to victory in the Jebel Ali Sprint.

"He is in terrific form. Our target is obviously to do well in these two races. It will be good to finish off in style," said Seemar, who also has Pompeyano running in the $5 million (Dh18.3m) Dubai Sheema Classic, a Group 1 turf race over 2,400m.

"The field, of course, is competitive. Already we've proven with the Carnival which horses are actually good on what surface," he said on their prospects.

The veteran trainer was pleased with the conditions. "There was a little bit of a question mark because it was too early for the turf. With a little bit of time the turf will be better, of course. I think it looks good so far," he said.

There will be three turf races and five on the all-weather Tapeta surface, including the $10m Dubai World Cup, at the iconic Meydan Racecourse.

Seemar was looking beyond World Cup with two of his horses Ibn Al Nafis and Pompeyano expected to join the Godolphin stables next season.

"My season was better than I expected. We had some exceptional runners like Ibn Al Nafis who is unbeaten," he said.