G1 winner Tuz back at Meydan

UAE champion sprinter Tuz, winner of the Group 1 Golden Shaheen in March, makes a welcome return to action in the Al Garhoud Sprint (Listed) at Meydan today, the highlight of an exciting eight-race card at the Dubai track.

- Ed Marnane

Trained by Bhupat Seemar for Dakki Stable, Tuz returns to the scene of the biggest success of his career when he lines up in the day's 1200m showpiece in the hands of regular pilot Tadhg O'Shea.

Tuz, rated 115, has a 1.5kg penalty to defy on his first start in 251 days. The Oxbow gelding has a good record fresh and should start his campaign with a bang before targeting the major dirt sprint prizes later in the season.

Colour Up, last year's Al Garhoud Sprint winner, looks the chief threat to spoil Tuz's comeback. Doug Watson's star sprinter, winner of three of his nine races on Meydan's main track, dropped out tamely to finish last of 14 behind Tuz in the Golden Shaheen, his final appearance of the campaign last season.

However, he's likely to leave that form well behind returning from a summer break and stepping down in class. Colour Up is a useful sprinter and won the Al Garhoud Sprint off a 279-day absence.