Ed Marnane
Billy Webster made an immediate impact on his UAE/dirt debut last month, impressing in a 1000m handicap at Jebel Ali. It was his first start since leaving Newmarket trainer George Scott.
The son of Profitable, owned by Akarem Racing, travelled powerfully before Pat Dobbs sent him clear in the closing stages to win easily on his first start for Doug Watson.
He returns to Jebel Ali on Saturday and has strong claims of following up in Race 4, the Emirates Airline Cup, one of seven races on competitive card at the Dubai track.
Jebel Ali-based Michael Costa, the top trainer this season, is three-handed and riding arrangements suggest the Ben Coen-ridden Mozahim is their main hope.
Winner of three of his four starts at the track, he returns after a near nine-month break since finishing sixth behind Major Cinnamon. Costa has a good record with horses returning from a lengthy break and unexposed Mozahim demands plenty of respect in a competitive event.
From the foot of the weights Markakol is an interesting runner on his local debut for trainer Julio Olascoaga, who has booked Irish rider Andrew Slattery. Formerly trained by Roger Varian, he was useful sprint handicapper and signed off his campaign in the UK when a good second at Beverley in July.
He is a lightly raced three-year-old and is open to further improvement. The switch to dirt is an obvious concern but if handling the underfoot conditions, he should go well.
Connor Beasley and Ahmad bin Harmash are enjoying a good season and team up with Thunder Of Niagara, a gelding that can boast form in Stakes company at Meydan last season. He is very unexposed on dirt and was a creditable fifth of 16 behind Major Cinnamon at Jebel Ali in March.
Frustrating Ghaaleb, beaten favourite in three of his last four races, can finally open his account at the sixth time of asking in Race 3, the 1200m maiden. Trained by Costa for Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum, Ghaaleb is entitled to improve for his recent comeback and in a modest race, he will take plenty of beating.
Margham, trained by Salem bin Ghadayer, is feared despite being off the track since March 2023. By Dubai World Cup winner Accelerate, he showed a decent level of ability in two appearances last year, the most recent when beaten a neck by Ghazzwaan in a 1600m maiden on his Jebel Ali debut 637 days ago.
Race 2, the two-year-old conditions race over 1400m, is a minefield for punters. Two of the five runners are unraced and the three juveniles that have run, have not shown much.
In a tricky race, the newcomer La Yetal gets the vote having shaped nicely in a barrier trial, finishing a close-up third, at Jebel Ali two months ago. The War Of The Will, representing Costa, is a well-bred colt and cost his owner $335,000 (R6m) at Keeneland September Yearling Sale last year.
Race 6, the 1600m conditions race, looks a good opportunity for useful Quality Humor, rated 102, to snap a lengthy losing run going back three years. He was highly tried in strong company last season, highlighted by his good third behind Hypothetical in the Group 3 Firebreak Stakes.
He was not beaten far in the Jebel Ali Classic in March and with conditions stacked in his favour tomorrow, he should be hard to beat.
Racing closes with a 1600m handicap and in an open event, Violent Justice is the pick to build on an encouraging comeback at Meydan last month. Trained by Doug Watson, he kept on in the closing stages to finish third behind Lion’s Mane and is nicely drawn in stall No 3.
Violent Justice, who has a good record at Jebel Ali, has the services of Pat Dobbs, who won Sunday’s Listed National Day Cup on Daramethos.
It is hard to discount top-weight Stormy Ocean, trained by Ahmad bin Harmash. He has filled the runner-up berth in two appearances this season, both at Abu Dhabi. The switch to dirt should not be an obstacle for this son of Frankel.
Of the rest, Wessall makes most appeal back at Jebel Ali, a track at which he has won two of his four races. Trained by Costa, he is entitled to be sharper for his seasonal debut at Abu Dhabi last month.
Best Bet: 5 La Yetal (Race 2)
Best Value: 8 Delorean (Race 5)
Best Swinger: 4 Violent Justice and 2 Wessall (Race 7)
JACKPOT
(Races 4 to 7)
R36
Leg 1: 2, 3, 4
Leg 2: 3, 4, 6, 8
Leg 3: 5
Leg 4: 1, 2, 4