Strong fields for season-ending races

The capital's final race meeting of the season features the Group 1 Emirates Challenge for Purebred Arabians, with Dutch raider Periander bidding to win it for a second consecutive year. The Margaretha de Ruiter-Floor-owned Periander finished strongly, beating Raked by a short head in the Group 1 race last year and the two are back in the fray again. Joining the duo is Versac PY, a five-year-old under Richard Hills who will be looking to sign off with a win in his last meeting in the capital. Versac has won his last three starts but will face a test in his first Group 1 start though he is expected to be among the front-runners for the Dh200,000 race. The Abu Dhabi Championship, a Group 3 for Thoroughbreds, has also attracted a strong field.