Dr. Schivel Holds Top Rating in Golden Shaheen

Grade 1 sprinters Dr. Schivel  and Drain the Clock  lead the North American challengers entered in the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen Sponsored by Atlantic Dubai (G1), a 1,200-meter contest being run March 26 at Meydan Racecourse.

The Golden Shaheen is one of six group 1 stakes on the Dubai World Cup Day card.

Dr. Schivel, a 4-year-old son of Violence  , trained by Mark Glatt will be making his 2022 debut in the Golden Shaheen, which is will be run at his favorite distance of around six furlongs. Dr. Schivel won last year's Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) and Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes (G2) on his way to a second by a nose to Aloha West  in the Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1). A rough trip in the RUNHAPPY Malibu Stakes (G1) produced Dr. Schivel's his first finish off the board in nine starts. The colt races for Red Baron's Barn, Rancho Temescal, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, and co-breeder William A. Branch.

Drain the Clock, a 4-year-old son of Maclean's Music  , won five of eight starts last year that included wins in the Woody Stephens Stakes Presented by Nassau County Industrial Development Agency (G1), Bay Shore Stakes (G3), and Claiborne Farm Swale Stakes (G3), all at seven furlongs. He comes into the Golden Shaheen with a second-placed finish by a neck to Miles Ahead  in the six-furlong Gulfstream Park Sprint that was run in 1:08.88. The colt is trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. and owned by partners Slam Dunk Racing, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables, and Michael Nentwig.

Sol Kumin's Madaket Stables is also partners in Golden Shaheen contender Wondrwherecraigis , a 5-year-old gelded son of Munnings  . He comes into the Golden Shaheen off a 3 3/4-length win in the six-furlong Fire Plug Stakes at Laurel Park. The other owners of Wondrwherecraigis are Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group, and Bethlehem Stables. Brittany Russell trains the gelding.

"You're going to Dubai, so of course you're going to catch some monsters. We don't want to be 20-1 but, on the other hand, we're not going to be the favorite," said Russell before Wondrwherecraigis shipped to Dubai. "We're going over there with a horse who thinks he's on top of the world right now. Hopefully, he's still thinking that when he leaves there."

Two of the top contenders based at Meydan are trainer Doug Watson's Al Tariq , who won the Jan. 21 Dubawi Stakes Presented by Riviera by Azizi (G3) at about six furlongs; and trainer Ahmad Bin Marmash's Eastern World , who comes into the Golden Shaheen off a win in the Mahab Al Shimaal Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G3), also at about six furlongs.

Trainer Hesham Al Haddad's Mobaadel, a 4-year-old son of Speightstown  , is coming into the race off a three-race winning streak in Bahrain. Last out he won an about six furlong stakes by seven lengths in 1:09.19.

The full field is as follows by saddle cloth number and official rating: 1. Al Tariq (111), 2. Dr. Schivel (119), 3. Drain the Clock (116), 4. Eastern World (111), 5. Everfast  (106), 6. Good Effort  (108), 7. Manjeer  (107), 8. Meraas  (112), 9. Mobaadel (113), 10. Red le Zele  (113), 11. Strongconstitution  (105), 12. Switzerland  (110), 13.Wondrwherecraigis (110), and 14. Chain of Love (104).