Ed Marnane
The Al Nayefat and Al Nawayef Stakes for three-year-olds take centre stage on Friday at Jebel Ali’s penultimate meeting of the season.
Jebel Ali-based Michael Costa, the season’s leading trainer, holds a strong hand in both races, starting with the smart Lahfaty in the Al Nayefat Stakes over which is restricted to fillies.
Owned by Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum, she was no match for exciting Manama Gold in the Cocoa Beach Stakes last month, finishing 9.25 lengths behind the Fawzi Nass-trained winner, who has since won the UAE Oaks.
This looks a golden opportunity for Ben Coen-ridden Lahfaty in a race that lacks strength in depth. She is expected to continue Costa’s excellent record at Jebel Ali.
Thirty minutes later Costa and Coen team up with Turjman in the Al Nawayef Stakes, restricted to colts and geldings. Winner of two of his four races at Jebel Ali, he comes on the back of a solid run in the UAE 2000 Guineas, when finishing less than six lengths behind shock winner Mendelssohn Bay.
The form of the race was given a timely boost last Friday at Meydan, thanks to the victory of the runner-up (Killer Collect) in the Al Bastakiya Stakes, a trial for the UAE Derby.
Turjman is the highest rated runner in the line-up off a mark of 96. This looks a perfect opportunity for him to resume winning ways and is fancied to see off Nass-trained Military Artist, the chief threat in a weak race.
Race 2, the opening handicap over 1200m, has attracted a big field and former Jebel Ali Sprint winner Al Tariq, trained by Doug Watson, heads the weights.
The son of Oasis Dream, winner of two of his six races at Jebel Ali, steps down in class after a solid effort in the Jebel Ali Sprint last month when beaten three lengths by stablemate Colour Up.
In a competitive race, he warrants respect, despite having to concede weight to his 14 rivals.
Costa, who leads the trainers’ championship with 30 wins, four clear of Bhupat Seemar, saddles Mojeyrr and Kal Barq, the choice of Coen.
A wide-margin winner at the track in December, he ran well behind Thegreatcollection at Meydan and reproduction of that form puts him right in the mix.
Costa has booked Johnatan Castano Mateus to ride the unexposed Mojeyrr, who is unbeaten at Jebel Ali. Last time at Meydan, he was denied by the admirable and consistent Mr Kafoo in a nine-runner handicap. He has sound claims of going one better and another bold run is expected.
Kuwaiti trainer Rashed Bouresly has enjoyed a decent campaign at Jebel Ali this winter. He saddles four runners — Al Khaldie, My Kinda Day, Sendeed and Houb Al Wattan — with preference for the last-named, Tadhg O’Shea’s mount.
A surprise winner over the course and distance last month, he failed to follow up when sent off favourite switching to turf in a competitive 16-runner handicap at Meydan six days later. The four-year-old can bounce back and is one to consider.
Typically at this stage of the season, Race 3 the maiden over 1400m, is a poor event and it may pay to support well-bred newcomer Saayedd, who makes his belated debut at the age of six for Costa.
The son of Malibu Moon, a $275,000 (R5.3m) yearling purchase, is well-related and half-brother to a Grade 1 winner. It looks highly significant that his connections have been patient and he won’t need to be above average to making a winning start.
Costa is responsible for three of the 16 runners in Race 6, the 1950m handicap. Riding arrangements suggest Alhzeem, the choice of Coen, has the strongest credentials of the trio ahead of course winners Makfoul and Wessall.
The form of Alhzeem’s second to Qareeb last month has been boosted as the winner went on to run third in the Jebel Ali Mile before taking advantage of a lower mark on turf when winning a competitive handicap at Meydan.
Alhzeem is often tardy from the gates and from the widest draw, he could be hindered by a slow start.
In an open-looking race, top-weight Tenbury Wells, a two-time winner at the track, appeals having returned to form behind Swing Vote in Group 3 at this course last month. Of the rest, course winners Violent Justice and Cosmic Desert, along with Sanad Libya, merit respect.
Racing rounds off with a 1600m handicap and a full field of 14 face the starter. In a trappy event, Al Maysan gets the vote for trainer Ahmad bin Harmash under Connor Beasley, the season’s leading rider.
By Dubawi, he has slipped in the ratings and hasn’t run badly in competitive turf handicaps at the Dubai Carnival. He’s very unexposed on dirt and this looks his easiest task to date since leaving Charlie Appleby. He produced a solid effort on his last run at Jebel Ali in November, a race that worked out.
Al Maysan is nicely drawn and should be thereabouts in a race many are struggling for form.
BEST BET
Race 3 No 11 Saayedd
VALUE BET
Race 7 No 2 Al Maysan
BEST SWINGER
Race 7: 2-Al Maysan and 8-Fall Of Rome
JACKPOT
(Races 4 to 7)
R12
Leg 1: 4
Leg 2: 8
Leg 3: 1, 2, 11, 14
Leg 4: 2, 8, 9
SELECTIONS
Race 1: 5 UNTETHERED 13 AF AL BAHER 11 AF AL ABADEE 6 AF KAL NOOR
Race 2: 1 AL TARIQ 2 KAL BARQ 4 MOJEYRR 10 HOUB AL WATTAN
Race 3: 11 SAAYEDD 15 THEEBAN 13 CABRIT 14 STATE OF DESIRE
Race 4: 4 LAHFATY 1 ARAM 6 REGAL GALLERY 2 AWESOME GAL
Race 5: 8 TURJMAN 4 MILITARY ARTIST 6 RASAS 3 CLEAR IMAGE
Race 6: 14 COSMIC DESERT 1 TENBURY WELLS 2 ALHZEEM 11 VIOLENT JUSTICE
Race 7: 2 AL MAYSAN 8 FALL OF ROME 9 GOLDEN ARCH 7 MIAMI JOY