AL-ARABIYA NOVICE PAIR CATCH THE EYE

Bakeel and Shihab serve notice for 75,000 event with their sparkling 600m hit-outs

- Brian Miller

At 55 rating points, he is the highest-rated galloper going into that Novice race on March 17 - and he just might be the one to run down over the 1,400m.

To add to his rivals' discomfort, or maybe it was to give them more to think about, Bakeel showed good action in a workout on the morning of March 12.

Ridden by Kranji's favourite hoop Manoel Nunes, Bakeel was as brilliant as the man in the saddle when he ran out the 600m in a swift 37.7sec.

Sent out with stablemate Shihab - who could be his main rival in that exciting $75,000 Novice race - the pair matched strides and finished level.

While not taking anything away from Shihab, it was Bakeel who was doing his best work at the end of that short and sharp sprint.

He started pulling away after the winning post.

Anyway, their trainer, Steven Burridge, would have been mighty pleased with the effort put in by his lively pair of up-and-coming stars.

Between the two of them, Bakeel and Shihab have collected a win apiece.

Bakeel did it on debut over 1,200m on July 2, 2023 - before being allowed to rest on his laurels with only three other outings.

As for Shihab, he - you could say - has "been there and done that".