Consistent Mayaadeen stands out at Jebel Ali

Ed Marnane

Racing returns to Jebel Ali on Saturday and following a busy month of racing in the UAE, predictably runners are scarce, and only two of the seven races have attracted double-digit size fields.

The most valuable race on the programme is the 1400m handicap, Race 5. The eight-runner contest looks open and many of the top yards represented. Doug Watson, the top trainer at Jebel Ali this season, runs Mayaadeen and Violent Justice. The latter, the mount of Pat Dobbs, was soundly beaten at Meydan on Sunday and has been bang out of form since a pleasing comeback here earlier in the campaign.

Course specialist Mayaadeen, owned by Shadwell, has enjoyed a productive campaign this season, winning twice at Jebel Ali, a venue he has only finished out of the frame three times in nine starts. He ran well in defeat behind Street Mood in a competitive handicap at Meydan on his most recent appearance. Mayaadeen is a model of consistency and can be trusted to run well under regular rider Dane O’Neill.

Chosen Mark, a winner over the course and distance earlier in the month, returns to Jebel Ali following a good fourth behind Fawaareq at Abu Dhabi. Ahmed Al Shemaili’s gelding holds leading claims under Antonio Fresu.

Argentinian-bred Perfect Love, trained by Julio Olascoaga, comes here off the back of his best run of the season when a good third behind the unexposed Western Writer at Abu Dhabi. If coping with the undulations of Jebel Ali, he should go well.

Seven three-year-olds head to post for the 1200m maiden, Race 2. It’s not a strong contest and the locally trained Kal Barq looks the one to beat. He showed promise on his racecourse debut at Meydan before finishing seven lengths behind the smart British sprinter Al Dasim. He will appreciate the drop back into maiden company and is expected to see off the challenge of Home From Home and Talentum.

Champion trainer Bhupat Seemar hands a first start to the US-bred colt, Distorted Effort, in the second 1200m maiden, thirty minutes later. He is a son of Distorted Humor and cost his owners €87,000 (R1.6m) as a two-year-old at the Arqana breeze-up sale, in France, two years ago. He makes plenty of appeal on pedigree and could easily be up to make a winning start under Tadhg O’Shea.

Of those with previous experience, Energetic and Exact Order merit respect. The former, the only three-year-old in the line-up, is getting plenty of weight and only has to reproduce her close second to Tiger Nation here to play a major role. The winner gave the form a big boost when easily winning the prep for UAE 2000 Guineas on his next run.

It is easy to forgive Energetic’s latest run at Meydan, taking on a seasoned campaigners on her handicap debut she predictably struggled and finished a long way behind the winner, Magic Petition. She's fancied to bounce back.

Exact Order, trained by Doug Watson, shaped with promise despite showing signs of greenness on his racecourse debut, leaving the impression he would benefit from for the experience.

Bhupat Seemar has kept Rayig busy this month and he makes quick returns to action in the 1200m handicap, race 4, six days after running fourth behind shock winner Celtic Voyage at Meydan. This will be his fourth run of the month and fear his hectic schedule will leave him vulnerable. The son of Exceed And Excel, who must concede weight to his six rivals, is a habitual slowly away and is one to oppose at skinny odds.

Scots Pine has been running well in defeat this season and is fancied to go close. He ran well behind Rayig on his last run at Jebel Ali and is weighted to reverse the form on these terms. Of the rest, Major Cinnamon is preferred, despite a modest strike-rate, winning once from 15 starts. He has a decent record at Jebel Ali and wasn’t disgraced in a competitive 16-runner handicap at Sharjah, finishing a creditable eighth behind Miqyaas.

The best bet on the card is Show Maker in the 1600m handicap, Race 6. He shaped well after an absence on his local/dirt debut at Meydan last month for trainer Ismail Mohammed, before only finding Chosen Mark too strong switching to Jebel Ali. The form looks solid, as he and the winner pulled well clear and small rise in the ratings looks fair. He’s very unexposed on dirt and many of his rivals are bang out of form in a race that won’t take much winning.

BEST BET

Race 6 No 1 Show Maker

VALUE BET

Race 5 No 4 Scots Pine

BEST SWINGER

Race 5 5-Mayaadeen and 8 Chosen Mark [Race 5]

JACKPOT

Races 4 to 7

R32

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4

Leg 2: 5, 8

Leg 3: 1

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3,5