Ed Marnane
The Jebel Ali Stakes (Listed), first run in 1994, headlines a quality card on the final meeting of the season at Jebel Ali racecourse on Saturday.
Daramethos and Lost Eden — the last two winners — take on 14 rivals in an open looking event, over 1950m. The last-named, one of three runners representing Doug Watson ran well under a big weight when third behind Qareeb in late January, taking a big step forward on his modest performance behind Dhahabi on his seasonal reappearance at Meydan a month earlier.
Owned by Sheikh Obaid Al Maktoum, he comes a fresher horse than most of his rivals and holds sound claims of giving Watson his second win in three years.
Daramethos was well held in the Jebel Ali Mile last month, trailing in nearly 10 lengths behind the winner Swing Vote. He will be suited by the step back up in distance and can’t be dismissed under in-form Oscar Chavez. He has the benefit of a good draw and should enjoy a ground-saving trip.
Jebel Ali-based Australian trainer Michael Costa has dominated racing at Jebel Ali this season and Alhzeem, the choice of stable jockey Ben Coen, makes most appeal of his two runners.
The six-year-old gelding has won two of his three races at the Dubai track, the most recent when narrowly defeating In Crowd over 1950m, showing a determined attitude in a close finish. He has an awkward draw to overcome, which clearly is a concern but has to be high on any shortlist.
Sean, trained by Jamie Osborne, is a rare international runner in the Jebel Ali Stakes. The seven-year-old, the highest rated runner in the field, off a mark of 108, is unproven on dirt.
He has been running well in defeat in major turf races at the Dubai Racing Carnival, highlighted by his good third behind Godolphin’s Naval Power in the Singspiel Stakes, Group 2. However, he’s hard to fancy on his Jebel Ali/dirt debut in this company and is readily opposed.
Red-hot Bhupat Seemar is three-handed with the stable’s retained rider, Tadhg O’Shea, choosing to ride Franz Strauss. By Derby winner Golden Horn, he badly flopped in the Al Maktoum Classic and has questions to answer switching to Jebel Ali. It is heartening that Franz Strauss ran well on his only run at Jebel Ali earlier in the season, finishing a close fourth behind Swing Vote under top-weight.
Seemar has booked Richard Mullen to ride Nevershow Weakness, who takes a drop in grade after finishing a respectable sixth behind shock winner Military Law in the aforementioned Al Maktoum Classic.
A strong stayer, he reeled off a hat-trick of wins at Meydan earlier in the season and is making his Jebel Ali debut. The ability to handle the track is a query and from a double-digit stall, he looks up against it.
There is a decent support card and the Jebel Ali Classic is undoubtedly the highlight. Introduced in 2018, the race over 1400m and worth AED 250,000 (R1.2m) is a strong renewal. Bhupat Seemar has won the last two runnings and saddles the Shadwell-owned Laneqash and Morning, with Tadhg O’Shea choosing to ride the former.
He has struggled in three outings this season and looks up against it. Morning, third in the Mahab Al Shimaal two weeks ago, was soundly beaten in the Jebel Ali Sprint last month, albeit was slowly away. He’s hard to fancy.
Former Jebel Ali Sprint winner Al Tariq and Everfast represent Doug Watson, who saddled the first three winners of the Jebel Ali Classic. Al Tariq, the choice of Pat Dobbs, bids for another major prize at the Dubai track and comes here on the back of a solid run under top-weight in a handicap at the track earlier in the month.
He’s a consistent and reliable performer, and I expect he can put up a bold show.
Everfast was no match for Laurel River in the Burj Nahaar, finishing nearly 10 lengths behind Bhupat Seemar’s impressive winner having forced the early pace.
The winner, owned by Juddmonte, will contest the Dubai World Cup at the end of the month. Everfast, who is making his Jebel Ali debut, will be suited the drop in class and is one to consider.
Tamborrada and Echo Point are closely matched on their recent running in the Ras Al Khor (Group 3) at Meydan, in which the French raider Fort Payne caused a big shock. The former, runner-up behind Secret Ambition in last year’s Jebel Ali Classic, is preferred of the pair. He improved for the application of a visor behind Fort Payne and produced a career-high effort.
Echo Point, trained by Musabbeh Al Mheiri, has not run at Jebel Ali and his ability to handle the conditions is a query. However, if he handles the undulations and the stiff finish of the track, he should make his presence felt.
It’s hard to oppose Lahfaty in Race 3, the Jebel Ali Distaff. Trained by Michael Costa, she impressed when winning the recent prep under Ben Coen, despite idling in the closing stages.
Half an hour later, a maximum field of 16 go to post in the Al Wasl Classic, for three-year-old colts and geldings over 1400m. On ratings, South American-bred Quartier, rated 98, looks the one to beat on his Jebel Ali debut.
He ran well behind the Bhupat Seemar-trained pair Mendelssohn Bay and Killer Collect in the UAE 2000 Guineas. This represents his easiest task since arriving in the UAE and is taken to see off Military Artist, recent winner of minor event over the same course and distance.
SELECTIONS
Race 1
11 AA BURNING CRESCENT 12 SA’ARI 7 AF MARMUQ 3 ASMAA AL WATHBA
Race 2
5 NEVER A DREAM 10 LAA BAAS 3 AL SHIBLI 4 MUZAHIM
Race 3
4 LAHFATY 5 LE FAUCON MALTAIS 1 AWESOME GAL 6 LIGHTNING PARADISE
Race 4
1 QUARTIER 4 FALCON OF ARABIA 7 MILITARY ARTIST 10 RASAS
Race 5
4 AL TARIQ 14 TAMBORRADA 6 ASAD ZABEEL 9 EVERFAST
Race 6
6 DARAMETHOS 3 ALHZEEM 10 LOST EDEN 2 AJUSTE FISCAL
Race 7
12 ARABIAN TALE 1 DOWN ON DA BAYOU 5 EL PATRIOTA 9 KAATIBB
Best Bet: 5 Never A Dream [Race 2]
Best Value: 6 Daramethos [Race 6]
Best Swinger: 1 Quartier and 4 Falcon Of Arabia [Race 4]
Jackpot
[Races 4-7]
R54
Leg 1: 1, 4, 7
Leg 2: 4, 6, 14
Leg 3: 3, 6
Leg 4: 1, 5, 12