Speedsters Take Centre Stage At Sharjah As Tuz Takes The Spotlight

Sunday's Sharjah card is all about speed, with two sprinting co-features carrying a purse of AED200,000 each. The Emirates Sprint Series begins with the HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup for thoroughbreds, and Road Bloc, the defending champion, returns to defend his title after landing both this and the Jebel Ali Sprint to win the bonus in the series' inaugural year last season. He has a flawless record of two wins in two straight track appearances, and with Sharjah being his training ground, he cannot be easily dismissed. 

Tuz, the sprinting sensation from Zabeel, however, is expected to steal the show. He won the Gr.3 Al Shindagha Sprint earlier this year and finished seventh in the premier Dubai Golden Shaheen. With a rating of 112, he is the clear pick on form. Al Tariq and Alkaraama, veteran sprinters who finished fourth and seventh in Meydan last time, also have a shot. However, they appear to be past their prime, and it remains to be seen if they can make successful comebacks. Other notable contenders include Story of Light, last season's Jebel Ali Sprint runner-up, who performs well fresh, and Ever Given, who is still a bit of an unknown for the Salem bin Ghadayer team. 

In the Purebred Arabian equivalent, the HH The Crown Prince of Sharjah Cup, the Al Wathba Racing battalion is expected to dominate, with Asmaa Al Wathba and Bassam Al Wathba leading the charge for the Majed Al Jahoori duo. Bernardo Pinheiro, who is on Bassam Al Wathba, could be a strong pointer.