After manhandling her fellow fillies on debut, Al Rashid Stables’ Doug Watson-trained Mnasek was unable to overcome a poor break in the UAE 1000 Listed Guineas last out and found herself a facile seven-lengths beaten by Godolphin’s dominant Soft Whisper, consequently one of the favourites for Saturday’s $1.5 million Saudi Derby.
Mnasek wins on debut at Meydan (Pic- Erika Rasmussen)
Rid of that imposing foe, the daughter of Empire Maker has her moment to shine in Thursday’s Gr3 UAE Oaks, which will be contested over a 1900m trip that she is bred to relish.
“She’s doing really well and we broke her out of the gate twice with Pat (Dobbs, jockey),” Watson said. “I’m happy with him being on her this time. She has a lot of talent and if you stay out of her mouth- because she’s touchy with that- at the start, she will break a lot better. I think she and Super Chianti are in great shape for the run. Mnasek should definitely love the distance.”
Charles Fipke’s homebred Super Saver filly Super Chianti, third in the Guineas, joins her stablemate in the gate with a change of equipment and some much-needed experience under her belt. With a pedigree that says she might enjoy the up in trip, as well, Super Chianti completes a strong one-two punch for Watson in a race that might produce a starter for the $750,000 Gr2 UAE Derby.
“Super Chianti will get a visor this time and hopefully that helps her break better and she can be a little more involved,” Watson continued. “They’re both coming into the race fitter than before and I think they’ll give good accounts of themselves.
“You have to respect the Jebel Ali filly, Nayefah, in there for Nicholas Bachalard, as well. She may be a maiden, but she’s bred to love this distance and hasn’t ran all that badly so far.”
Watson also touched on Waady, who defends his crown in the Gr2 Meydan Sprint on Thursday and returns to his favourite five-furlong trip and grass surface in the process.
Waady wins at Meydan in 2020 (Pic- Erika Rasmussen)
Watson: “It’s really good to be back on grass with him and he’s definitely better on it, even tough he ran great last out in the Dubawi (finishing second). He’s in great form and everything about him at the moment is positive.
“I would love to see him run well again in this, so that we can just go straight to the Gr1 $1 million Al Quoz Sprint with him on March 26, Dubai World Cup Day.”
