Naseem aims to extend winning run

Unbeaten Naseem has to defy the handicapper as he bids to post back-to-back wins in the Arabian Triple Crown, the highlight at today's race meeting at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club (Adec). Naseem won the opening leg of the three-race series, as well as the UAE Purebred Arabian Derby, but as a result will have to concede weight to his six rivals in the 2,200 metres contest which is restricted to four-year-olds and sponsored by Adec. Trained by Majid Al Jahouri, Naseem is unbeaten in the UAE for last season's champion jockey Wayne Smith. Assessing his chances, Smith said: "I was very impressed with his first win over 1600m and he coped brilliantly with the step up to 2200m last time. He has a lot of class and would be potentially one of the best Purebred Arabians I have sat on. He has to give weight away but I am very hopeful he can pass this next test." Naseem was chased home in the UAE Derby by stable companion Areem who takes his chances again under Harry Bentley. Reverse form The Al Jahouri pair face the challenge of Daffagh Al Asayl, who chased them home in third time in that UAE Derby. His trainer Ernst Oertel will be hoping his charge can reverse form in receipt of weight this time, with Dubai World Cup winning jockey Mirco Demuro in the saddle. Today's card also features the Emirates Colts Classic, also restricted to four-year-olds with the maximum field of 16 declared for the 1600m contest. Mohammad Al Ketbi trains Okba who has won his two most recent starts, including over course and distance, and looks the one to beat despite carrying a penalty. Patrick Cosgrave takes the ride and will be hoping to confirm form with Af Sanadek, whom he beat last time and has since won a maiden for trainer Eric Lemartinel. The penultimate race is a 2200m conditions event which features several horses who have been competing in Group 1 company, including Nirwan, Time Out and Frynchman. They take on the highly progressive Versac PY, who is prepared by former UAE champion Erwan Charpy. He will be ridden by Richard Hills for owner Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance. The only Thoroughbred contest is the concluding 2200m prep for the Group 3 Abu Dhabi Championship. That race was won by Topclass last year for Mubarak Bin Shafya and Pat Cosgrave and their six-year-old looks hard to beat here, even though he has been penalised for that Group race win last year. Jutland, trained by Doug Watson and the mount of Tadhg O'Shea, could be the main danger after a very promising local debut in an all-weather handicap at Meydan's Dubai World Cup Carnival. His stable companion Udabaa, the mount of Richard Hills and Too Much Trouble, for Mosabah Al Muhairi and Wayne Smith, look the best of the rest.