The new racing season kicks of on Thursday at Nad Al Sheba, and promises to be the most exciting ever witnessed in the United Arab Emirates.

Doug Watson, the former assistant to UAE Champion Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, has taken over the reins at Red Stable and could get his first season off to a flying start. Watson saddles six runners throughout the evening including Saddad, a four-year-old son of Gone West, in the fifth race, a five furlong Thoroughbred conditions race on the dirt. Owned by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Saddad will be having his first run in the UAE and if he handles the dirt he looks the class horse in the field. Previously trained by Sir Michael Stoute and a Group Two winner, Saddad was beaten only one and a half lengths in his last outing in a Newbury Listed in July.

His main opposition in the race will be the Mazin Al Kurdi-trained San Salvador, a one and a quarter length winner towards the end of last season. The son of champion sprinter Dayjur will be running off a mark 4lbs higher than last time but this should not trouble him. Al Kurdi’s other runner Crystal Magician, a winner over 1,200 metres at Jebel Ali in February, will suit the drop down to 1,000 metres and with apprentice Michael Hussey, making his third visit to the UAE, claiming one and a half kilos he could run into a place. The five runner second race sees four unraced two-year-olds. Al Kurdi’s Cupola is the only runner in the race with any form, his latest run coming in June when finishing fourth to Middle Park Stakes third Holborn in a 1,000 metre conditions race at Ascot. Slane Hill will be partnered by the 2002 UAE Champion Jockey Ted Durcan, who will be looking to regain his title this year.Eldjani, trained by Al Kurdi and with Durcan in the saddle, could take all the beating in the opening race, a 1,800 metre handicap for purebred Arabians. Eldjani won his first start of the 2002-2003 season over 1,600 metres at Abu Dhabi and Thursday’s course and distance should suit the nine-year-old.

Sharjah-based trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe runs Dormanor who could certainly challenge, disappointing last time out over 2,200 metres in a Group One event, he showed his form in lower class over a mile in April. Vising is another who has place claims, finishing fourth last time beaten eight and a half lengths behind Dormanor in April. Others to be watched include Calin De Mirande who was third in the UAE Arabian Derby and Newmoon who was in fourth place in that race. Durcan could get his name on the board in the third race when he rides the Al Kurdi-trained Cherry Pickings, in the third race a 40-70 Handicap over 1,400 metres. Cherry Pickings was a first up winner last season in a 50-80 Handicap when trained by Erwan Charpy. Charpy saddles the six-year-old Mumari, a course winner over 1,600 metres in an amateur riders race in March, with his fourth place last time out over 1,400 metres in a 45-75 handicap he looks a certain challenger.

Top weight is the Allan Smith-trained Binsina, although placed over this course and distance the weight could hamper him. Paddy Rudkin runs Mostabshir a distance winner in March, Hussey is in the saddle claiming one and a half kilos which could be what this gelding needs to land a place. John Sadler’s challenger Restructured, Willie Supple up, won a maiden in December 2002 over 1,300 at Nad Al Sheba and was third over this course and distance in a 60-90 handicap. He was out of his depth in the Pearls Of Dubai prestige race and this lower class should suit. Private Possession looks an interesting runner in the fourth race a 1,600 metre maiden, previously trained by David Loder, he finished three quarters of a length second in his only outing in a 1,400 metre maiden at Lingfield. He is now with Rudkin and will be ridden by his stable jockey Paul Hanagan and could take the beating. A horse to look out for in the race is the Al Kurdi-trained Fight, has changed yards and will suit the slightly shorter trip than he was running over last season. The final race of the evening, a 16 runner 2,000 metre handicap sees the seasonal debut of consistent performer Yiflan, trained by Erwan Charpy. Last season the son of Gone West won two races at Nad Al Sheba, and this distance will be ideal. If Valdancer, a maiden winner last season for trainer Paddy Rudkin, can handle the extra 600 metres he could be a real danger.