Seraphin Du Paon, Nieshan renew rivalry

Abu Dhabi Seraphin Du Paon, owned by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, gets a chance to avenge his defeat to Nieshan but the duo will face some stiff opposition in a classy field that starts in Saturday's opening race the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 for Purebred Arabians. The race, over a distance of ten furlongs is a preparation race for the Kahayla Classic (Group 1) on Dubai World Cup night which the Ernst Oertel-trained Seraphin Du Paon had bested Nieshan by just over a length last March. But Nieshan, handled by Frenchman Eric Lemartinel, got the better of Seraphin Du Paon in the HH The President's Cup (Group 1) on turf in Abu Dhabi early last month. While Gerald Avranche once again partners Nieshan, a six-year-old son of Akbar, another French jockey Olivier Peslier will be reunited with Seraphin DU Paon, replacing last year's Dubai World Cup winning jockey Mirco Demuro. However challenging the duo will be Sahib Du Clos under Royston Ffrench, the Saifaldin Deeb trained six-year-old Kerbella son who has won three of his four Group 1 races this season including two at Meydan. His only loss this season came in that Abu Dhabi clash when he finished behind Nieshan and Seraphin Du Paon but his record on the all-weather will be a worry for them today. Six challengers sired by Dormane are in the fray with the Majed Al Jahouri pair of Rami and Dariya hoping to make an impact while Oertel also saddles former Kahayla Classic winner Fryvolous. Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Deputy Ruler and Minister of Finance, who has had the most success with Purebred Arabians both in the Al Maktoum Challenge as well as the Kahayla, has two ageing stars in Paris Gagner and Santhal. Doug Watson, who trains Paris Gagner, had recently saddled Kandar Du Falgas under Richard Hills and the ten-year-old smashed the course record over seven furlongs in a Group 2 race last month while the 11-year-old Santhal is also a Group 1 winner from Erwan Charpy's yard. Timadit Al Mels, Frynchman and Djanet Monlau are three others also rated over 100 and one of the strongest Al Maktoum Challenge fields is likely to kick-start Super Saturday action with a thrilling finish. The major support is likely to be shared by Seraphin Du Paon and Nieshan.