Dutch ace De Vries a real boost to Medicean's chance

Veteran Medicean Man will be a first runner in Qatar for trainer Jeremy Gask when he lines up in the Breeders' Cup-sponsored Dukhan Sprint at Al Rayyan on Saturday, the final day of the Emir's Sword Festival. In the third part of his daily diary Gask casts his eye over events in Doha and provides the latest news on his evergreen 11-year-old . . .

I've been weighing up the opposition in tomorrow's race and have watched all the videos of the locals. Harry Bentley's mount Izzthatright looks a good horse and would be a worthy favourite.

I'd expect them to go very fast and all the evidence is that it pays to be handy. We'll try to sit not too far off the pace and we're well drawn in two to be able to get there.