Sheikh Hamdan's Muarrab (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) featured on last year's Dubai World Cup card as the winner of the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, and the 8-year-old gelding looks to put two defeats to start the season behind him in Thursday's G3 Al Shindagha Sprint.
Starting off in the Listed Garhoud Sprint on a non-carnival card on Dec. 15, the bay was soundly beaten by 4 3/4 lengths when second to My Catch (Ire) (Camacho {GB}), but he shortened the margin to a half-length when second to fellow former Shaheen winner Reynaldothewizard (Speightstown) in the Listed Dubawi S. over this track and trip Jan. 12.
Muarrab faces just five opponents, and those include U.S. Grade I winner Wild Dude (Wildcat Heir). The now 7-year-old won the 2015 GI Santa Anita Sprint Championship S. and added the GII Kona Gold S. over the same track last May before being transferred from trainer Jerry Hollendorfer to Mick Halford.
Cool Cowboy (Kodiak Kowboy) drops back in trip off a pair of tries over a mile to start the season, including a fifth in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R1 on Jan. 5. He won over seven furlongs here last year but recorded his lone win over this trip at Mountaineer Park as a 3-year-old in 2014.
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