I know it’s still a few weeks until the 2009 Carnival, well, 50 days to be precise, and most contenders will not be arriving in the UAE until early January, but it was, however, nice to see a few Nad Al Sheba favourites on the track this week. It’s not difficult to miss the white blaze on quadruple Carnival victor, Oracle West who, under Terry Fripp, looked in magnificent health as equine members from other yards cantered around the course. Now under the guidance of Herman Brown, he would score hands down each time if races were won on looks.

King Jock has done the rounds a bit and has been in every barn except Bethlehem but the dual Carnival and Abu Dhabi winner is now back in the Emirates and is being prepared by Tony Manuel who is excited about welcoming his new inmate to the yard.

Having only returned to the UAE just over six weeks ago, the weather conditions as I left the UK were, shall we say, slightly colder and wetter than here. That was, however, until we tacked up first lot last Sunday morning.

Probably before most of Dubai had even considered setting their alarms, work riders were left to keep control of their mounts with slippery reins as gale force winds made the task more challenging.

While I’m not a great fan of the wet stuff, years working in England have made me pretty much immune to soaking jeans and squelching boots, but the wind is a different matter and the last thing any rider needs is for a sudden gust of breeze to whip up underneath their horse’s tail sparking off skits of excitement and sending the string off in all directions.

As one door closes, another one opens and with the flat season in the UK closing last Saturday, the term in the Emirates takes over at just the right time and riders from Europe continue their winter duties in the sunshine.

Ted Durcan is not in action until next week, which gives Tadhg O’Shea a good opportunity to notch a couple of winners before the seven-time UAE champion resumes residence at his usual spot in the weighing room.