Al Asayl Stables gear up to make an international mark

Al Asayl Stables is likely to be mob-handed when racing gets underway in a weekend triple-header starting at Jebel Ali racecourse on November 6. "We have lots of horses I'm looking forward to and some good overseas prospects," said Simpson, taking a stroll through the racing barns. "Al Asayl has really become an international stable."

Fryvolous, the Kahayla Classic and Abu Dhabi International Stakes winning Arabian, is not currently in residence at Al Asayl. He is in England preparing for a tilt at the Arabian race on Arc de Triomphe day in October. "Perhaps I shouldn't say it, but he won the Kahayla Classic last year and I can see him doing it again this year," said Simpson. "He's being prepared for France and that's something we are all looking forward to."

The future of thoroughbred Balthazaar's Gift, who won a Group Two race at Newbury last month for the UK trainer Clive Cox, is as yet undecided. "I sent him to Clive for the summer and that proved to be a great decision," said Simpson. "What happens to him now depends on the management, but eventually I would like to see him become a stallion and I would like him to have a shot at a Group One." Simpson may send the six-year-old Arabian, Time Out, to a Group One race in Rome next month.

"I have a soft spot for him," he said. "He was fourth in a Group One last year and may not be up for it really, but he earned his chance to go to Rome and he has worked very well on the gallop." The gelding, Laheb Al Asayl can be a handful in the stable, but he has shown plenty of potential. "He's a bit of a monkey," said Simpson, dodging flashing teeth as he inspected the horse's legs. "But he's going for a first run at Abu Dhabi this season. We've also got Mujtahid, a 25-length winner last year, who can maybe do something.

"And there is Abu Alemarat who was second in the President's Cup last season but is recovering from injury. We are planning to go back and see if he can win it this time." One horse who needs to prove himself is Jazeerat Alsadiyat. He won a leg of the UAE Triple Crown before coming a disappointing seventh at Newbury. stregoning@thenational.ae