Writing on the wall for O'Shea

Approaching the halfway point of the season, UAE champion jockey Tadhg O'Shea is facing a tough battle in his bid for a 13th title.

- Ed Marnane

O'Shea, the most successful rider in the history of racing in the UAE, partnered his 800th winner in the Emirates at Meydan seven days ago, thanks to the victory of Tuz in the Dubawi Stakes (Group 3).

O'Shea, stable jockey to Bhupat Seemar, has ridden 20 winners this season, two behind Connor Beasley, the season's leading rider who is enjoying a terrific campaign. Danny Tudhope is level with O'Shea on 20 wins.

It promises to be an epic battle who will be crowned champion jockey in the next three months.

O'Shea has a decent book of rides at Meydan today and arguably the pick of his seven rides is Western Writer for Seemar in a wide-open looking Lord North Handicap, the most valuable prize of the eight-race card. The race, worth AED 350,000 (R1.8m), is named after Lord North, a son of Dubawi who was a four-time Group 1 winner for John Gosden and Godolphin, including three renewals of the Dubai Turf at Meydan.

Western Writer arrives in good order, having finished a close fourth in the President Cup (Listed) at Abu Dhabi, leaving the impression he will benefit from going up to 1800m. He has an awkward draw (No 11) to overcome in a race that has attracted a maximum field of 16.

Charlie Appleby, Godolphin's principal trainer, has made a solid start to his UAE campaign this season, saddling three winners from 13 runners. However, his record in handicaps has been surprisingly poor and he has had several short-price favourites beaten.

He saddles the unexposed pair of First Conquest and Arabian Light, the choice of William Buick and winner of two of his three races. By Kingman, he impressed when winning with the minimum of fuss at Kempton last August and holds strong claims of scoring on his handicap debut off a five-month break.