Ed Marnane
The Group 3 Jebel Ali Mile, a race with a long history stretching back three decades, takes centre stage on the biggest day of the season at the Dubai track on Saturday. Simon and Ed Crisford, who are seeking their third Jebel Ali Mile win in four years, are represented by lightly raced Majestic Pride, the mount of top Irish rider Dylan Browne McMonagle.
Owned by Rabbah Racing, Majestic Pride has progressed nicely with racing since arriving in the UAE and ran well when second to Sadaaty in the prep last month.
The winner, one of three horses trained by Michael Costa, renews rivalry and the six-year-old looks the one to beat under stable jockey Ben Coen.
Sadaaty impressed the manner he travelled through the race before readily quickening clear in the closing stages, crossing the line 0.75 lengths ahead of Majestic Pride, with two-time Jebel Hatta winner Alfareeq well held back in third.
Winner of three of his seven races, Sadaaty is nicely drawn and is entitled to be sharper for his recent win, having been off the track since making his seasonal debut in November.
The Jebel Ali Mile is one of the few major prizes in the UAE missing from Bhupat Seemar’s impressive CV since taking out a licence in 2021. He saddles four of the 14 runners and stable jockey Tadhg O’Shea has chosen to ride Remorse, winner of a handicap over the course and distance and second behind Algiers in the 2023 Jebel Ali Mile.
Remorse was soundly beaten in last month’s trial following a 294-day break. He will need to take a big step forward to play a leading role.
Musabbeh Al Mheiri has won the Jebel Ali Mile four times, the most recent with Silver Galaxy in 2015. He relies on Qareeb, the mount of Silvestre de Sousa and creditable third in last year’s renewal.
Qareeb, rated 105, has done little wrong in all three appearances this season and comes on the back of a solid fourth behind the much-improved Walk Of Stars in the Al Maktoum Challenge, Group 1. He warrants respect dropping in grade.
Race 5, the Jebel Ali Sprint (Listed), the final leg of the Emirates Sprint Series, sees last year’s winner Colour Up back to defend his crown. Trained by Doug Watson, he has chased home the mighty Tuz in each of his three appearances and with Tuz absent this looks a golden opportunity to record his first win in 12 months.
The son of Mehmas is the highest ranked runner in the field and holds decent claims in an open-looking race.
Dangers are aplenty, Czech sprinter Ponntos returns to Jebel Ali looking to improve on last year’s respectable fifth behind Watson’s smart sprinter. He arrives in good order having chased home West Acre in the Blue Point Stakes (Group 2) on turf at Meydan. The big fear is Ponntos, who is blessed with bags of early pace, getting home over the stiff Jebel Ali track. He can be opposed in a strong renewal.
Cover Up, trained by Simon and Ed Crisford, has improved since arriving in the Middle East and his good third in the aforementioned Blue Point Stakes was a personal-best. He should be thereabouts if bringing that form to Jebel Ali, a track he is having his first start.
In an open race, the Musabbeh Al Mheiri-trained Haasim and Al Shibli, resounding winner of last month’s trial (made all), can’t be ignored despite having plenty to find on the official ratings. Al Shibli, winner of two of his seven races at Jebel Ali, has not run a poor race at the track.
Haasim has thrived since sent sprinting this season and posted a career-high performance when second to Romantic Style in the Dubai Sprint (Listed) 15 days ago.
In Race 2, the 1400m handicap, progressive Yotarid, trained at Jebel Ali by Costa, can strike again and continue his rise up the ranks in the hands of Coen.
The form of his two defeats of Haasim at the track has been boosted and it’s hard to look beyond the Shamardal gelding, despite climbing the weights.
Racing concludes with 1950m maiden and the Costa/Coen partnership hold sound claims with lightly raced Elzaami, who is fitted with first-time blinkers on third start of his career.
He kept on for pressure when second to Shepperton Lodge at Jebel Ali earlier in the month, leaving the impression he will improve going up in distance. The application of headgear could spark further improvement.
BEST BET
Race 2 No 8 Yotarid
BEST VALUE
Race 3 No 6 Inner City
BEST SWINGER
Race 5 2-Colour Up and 5-Billy Webster
JACKPOT
(Races 4-7)
R72
Leg 1: 2, 3, 6
Leg 2: 2, 3, 5, 7
Leg 3: 8, 10, 13
Leg 4: 3, 5