'It's healthy competition' - Seemar excited by ambitious plans of Gulf nations

Bhupat Seemar, currently leading the UAE trainers' championship in his first season as the licensed trainer of Zabeel Stables in Dubai, has welcomed the global ambitions of neighbouring Gulf nations and believes the region can collectively become one of the leading racing circuits in the world.

Seemar saddled three runners on last Saturday's Saudi Cup card in Riyadh and is positive about the rapid rate of progress in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar.

"Dubai is the pioneer of it and I'm glad all the other countries are following and doing their own thing as well," said Seemar, speaking from his yard under the shadow of Dubai's imposing skyline on Tuesday morning. "It's going to become one of the best racing circuits in the world.

"With Dubai, Saudi, Qatar and Bahrain, all that money coming in gets some quality horses. Saudi is trying to have a carnival as well, so it's going to be fun."

Rather than any sense that the emergence of Saudi Arabia as a serious racing nation could threaten the product in Dubai, Seemar thinks it will encourage competition and strengthen racing in the entire region.

He added: "Dubai is trying to improve its carnival and racing so it's probably going to be one of the best places in the world. You're going to get good horses and if we can have horses who can go and compete in Saudi and they can come and compete here, it's all healthy competition, which makes all of us better."

There have been some rumblings in Dubai that having the Saudi Cup meeting a week before Super Saturday at Meydan may impact the competitiveness of the pre-World Cup meeting in Dubai but Seemar poured cold water on that theory.

Horses on the training track at trainer Bhupat Seemar's Zabeel Stables in DubaiCredit: Edward Whitaker

"I don't think that's the case," he said. "The horses that are going to Saudi are different horses. Maybe one or two per cent here or there but really not. I think they [the different authorities] are talking to each other. The Saudi Cup is a month from the Dubai World Cup and it gives everyone a perfect chance to run there and run on World Cup night. I believe Saudi is also building a few new tracks and it's good for racing."

Tom Ryan, director of strategy and international racing at the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, last week highlighted his ambition for the Gulf region to become a destination for trainers from as far away as Europe to base horses during the winter and Seemar thinks that is a logical next step.

He added: "Why not? We've got a good international carnival and people do come here and I think Saudi is starting something like that as well. Bahrain and Qatar have some good international racing as well so I think there's going to be a lot of people coming over."

Seemar saddled Secret Ambition to finish seventh in the $20 million Saudi Cup, as well as Switzerland and Gladiator King to finish sixth and seventh respectively in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint last Saturday, although all three may have been below par on the day.

"I'm not going to make any excuses but I scoped them after the races and all three were quite dirty," he said. "We don't have any dirty scopes in the stable here so it must have been during travel.

"If Secret Ambition was a clear scope, he would have been much closer. Nothing worked out for him. He wants to be in a battle and they all challenged down the middle of the track and he was stuck on the rail.

"He could go for the Godolphin Mile or the Dubai World Cup now. We'll have to think hard about which one."

The scene at Zabeel Stables on TuesdayCredit: Edward Whitaker

The 46-year-old is set for a busy night on Meydan's Super Saturday card this weekend and will field five runners in the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge and three in the Group 3 Burj Nahaar.

Avant Garde leads the trainer's challenge in the Al Maktoum and Seemar expects the Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum-owned five-year-old to have improved for his first run for the stable at Meydan in January.

Purchased by Sheikh Ahmed as a potential Dubai World Cup horse after finishing third in last year's Godolphin Mile, Saturday's 1m2f trip should suit him ideally.

"He does it the hard way and has to come from the back," said Seemar. "Things have to open up for him and he has to get lucky. He's a giant horse and it's very hard to get him fit.

"The mile was too short last time but hopefully this will be his right trip. He came from last in the straight to finish third in the Godolphin Mile. He was eating up the ground so you'd think he'd want to be a mile-and-a-quarter horse."

Read more international news:

Local runner Emblem Road runs out an 80-1 shock winner of $20 million Saudi Cup

Land of the rising force: Japan takes centre stage with four fabulous winners

William Buick to miss Saudi Cup card after testing positive for Covid

'It's a bit grim' – Moore laments British prize-money as he targets Saudi riches

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