All eyes on Devassa at Jebel Ali

Ed Marnane

The UAE debut of the exciting South American import Devassa in the Al Nayifat Stakes is the headline act at Jebel Ali on Sunday, the track’s penultimate fixture of the season.

Trained by Julio Olascoaga, she arrives in the Middle East with a tall reputation and is undefeated in five runs in Uruguay, the most recent in the Grade 3 company in October.

Impressive winner of the Uruguay 1000 Guineas, Devassa has found a good opportunity on her UAE debut and will be hard to beat, despite having to concede weight to her eight rivals.

Thirty minutes later, eight run in the Al Nawayef Stakes and Musabbeh Al Mheiri’s African Candy, recent winner of a maiden at Jebel Ali, makes plenty of appeal.

He has the assistance of the red-hot Silvestre de Sousa and caught the eye when defeating On The Way and Feeraas, recovering from a tardy start before forging clear in the closing stages.

Local trainer Michael Costa has booked Ray Dawson to ride Nahaash, winner of a 1000m maiden race on his racecourse debut at Jebel Ali’s opening fixture at the beginning of November.

He was found to be lame after trailing in last of seven when sent off warm favourite for a minor event back at Jebel Ali four weeks later.

Nahaash returned after a break last month, keeping on one-paced in the closing stages to chase home the impressive Dubay. The winner, trained by Bhupat Seemar, is held in high regard and is one of Seemar’s top three-year-olds. Nahaash holds solid claims.

Don Vaccaro, winner of two of his three races in Uruguay, is the highest rated horse in the field with a mark of 90. A winner at Grade 3 level at Maronas racecourse last July, he must concede weight to everything and has struggled in two runs since arriving in the UAE. He should appreciate the drop in grade and if he can rediscover his South American form, he can’t be ruled out.

King’s Fountain, the mount of Conor Beasley, can take advantage of a step down to maiden company and finally make the breakthrough in Race 2.

The son of Too Darn Hot has been running with credit in competitive handicaps since joining Ahmad bin Harmash, the most recent when fourth behind Eruptive at the Abu Dhabi Turf Club on Sunday.

It is an obvious concern he is backing up quickly, but he’s a tough gelding and won’t be fazed having his second run in six days.

Lightly raced Nukanan made an encouraging start to his career in the Emirates when finishing a close third behind Inner City, shaping as he’d improve for the run. He is very unexposed and if building on that promise, he should go well under Dawson.

Racing ends with a competitive 1950m handicap and should provide some clues for the Jebel Ali Stakes, the final Listed of the season at the track in two weeks.

Course specialist Saayedd, one of two runners representing Costa, looks the stable’s main hope ahead of Alhzeem, the winner of two of his eight races at Jebel Ali and the mount of Silvestre de Sousa.

Dawson rides the unexposed and progressive Saayedd, a winner over the course and distance at the beginning of February. He holds strong claims of recording his fourth win at the track and advertising his claims in the Jebel Ali Stakes.

Champion trainer Bhupat Seemar saddles three runners — Arabian Tale, Nevershow Weakness and Princ Rouz — the last-named, the choice of Tadhg O’Shea. Sporting the silks of Tuz’s owners, Dakki Stable, he began his career in Russia, winning eight of his 11 races.

He showed minor promise behind Elyabri on his UAE debut at Meydan on his first start in 10 months. He should step up on that run and is one to consider on his Jebel Ali debut.

Arabian Tale warrants respect under Andrew Slattery. He has a smart record at Jebel Ali and comes here in good heart, winning an 11-runner at the track off 87 in January. He should be competitive off 90 and is getting weight from his seven rivals.

Nevershow Weakness, the mount of Pat Cosgrave, showed improved form at Meydan last time, finishing three-parts of length ahead of Princ Rouz when fifth behind Elyabri. It’s a concern Nevershow Weakness ran poorly on his only previous start at Jebel Ali, trailing in 28 lengths behind Daramethos in the Jebel Ali Stakes 12 months ago.

Race 5, the 1200m handicap, has attracted a big field and the lightly raced Guarani, Inner City and Alsayel are the ones to focus on, with preference for the last-named.

Trained by Costa, he makes his handicap debut and opening mark of 87 looks fair. He was a good winner of a maiden at Meydan, building on an encouraging debut at the same track at the beginning of November.

Guarani, who began his career in the US with Steve Asmussen, opened his account at Jebel Ali last month, easily winning a 1200m maiden.

Runner-up Cabrit gave the form a timely boost winning a maiden at the Abu Dhabi Turf Club on Friday. Guarani is very unexposed and open to plenty of improvement on just fourth start of his career.

Inner City, trained by Musabbeh Al Mheiri, has progressed and made the breakthrough at the sixth of asking, showing a sharp turn of foot when landing a maiden over the same course and distance. He commands respect from a yard that continue to bang in the winners.

Best Bet: 5 King’s Fountain [Race 2]

Best Value: 8 Arabian Tale [Race 7]

Best Swinger: 11 Inner City and 9 Guarani [Race 5]

JACKPOT

[Races 4-7]

R54

Leg 1: 1, 2, 8

Leg 2: 5, 9, 11

Leg 3: 1, 3, 8

Leg 4: 2, 8