Ed Marnane
Lost Eden returns to Jebel Ali on Saturday chasing back-to-back wins in the Jebel Ali Stakes, the first of two Listed races at the Dubai track this season.
Trained by Doug Watson for prominent local owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, he impressed many in the trial on his first appearance of the campaign. Given a confident ride by Pat Dobbs, he never looked in trouble and readily drew clear to score easily and register his third win from four starts at Jebel Ali.
Lost Eden, who began his career with Richard Hannon, has thrived since joining Watson at Red Stables and will take plenty of stopping. He’s hard to oppose and can join Treble Jig and Montsarrat as two-time winners of the Jebel Ali Stakes since the race was introduced in 1993.
Book Review and Daramethos ran well behind Lost Eden in the prep but it’s hard to see the pair reversing the form as they’re worse off at the weights.
Among Lost Eden’s rivals is Azure Coast, winner of the UAE 2000 Guineas last season. He ran poorly on his seasonal debut at Meydan last month, trailing in a remote sixth behind Bendoog. He had a valid excuse as he was found to be lame after the race. If he can bounce back to his best, he holds minor claims on his Jebel Ali debut.
The fast-improving Rakeez, trained by Bhupat Seemar, is undefeated this season, winning twice at Jebel Ali. Typically of Dubawi’s progeny in the UAE, he has progressed since switched to dirt and rates a leading player, despite having plenty to find with Lost Eden on these terms.
Race 2, the 1200m handicap, was reopened on Monday after the contest only attracted four entries. Eight have been declared and it looks a moderate contest, with many of the runners out of sorts and struggling for form.
Useful sprinter Alkaraama, winner of the 2020 Listed Jebel Ali Sprint, has to concede weight to his seven rivals, eight days after finishing unplaced in the Listed Dubawi Stakes. He will appreciate the drop in class and being back at Jebel Ali, a venue he has proved highly effective and rarely run a poor race.
Alkaraama, trained by Musabbeh Al Mheiri, may struggle to give 7.5kg to Tabarak. Rashed Bouresly’s seven-year-old has progressed with racing this season and his latest run when second to Fanaar was a solid performance. He looks the one to beat.
Dubai West can continue the good run of the Ahmad bin Harmash and Ray Dawson partnership in the mile maiden, for three-year-olds, thirty minutes later. The US-bred youngster made her debut at Abu Dhabi last month, breaking awkwardly she got behind before staying on nicely in the closing stages to finish second to Tempesta D’Oro.
The daughter of West Coast, the sole filly in the field, will come on for the experience, while the switch to dirt shouldn’t be a concern, being out of JB’s Golden Regret, a three winner on dirt in the USA.
Ismail Mohammed’s Justice Protecol looks the answer in the 1600m handicap, Race 4, four weeks after landing a handicap at this track, his first victory in the UAE. The lightly raced Time Test gelding showed a likeable attitude and was always holding the challenge of Lady Snazz, the pair pulling four lengths clear of Dublin Pharaoh in the 1800m event.
Now rated 78, he doesn’t look badly treated off his new mark and having only his fourth run on dirt remains open to further improvement, unlike most of his rivals.
A maximum field of 16 has been declared for the 1800m maiden, Race 6. Alhzeem, trained at Jebel Ali by Michael Costa, makes plenty of appeal. He produced an improved display when second to Carpe Momentum at Jebel Ali, keeping on nicely in the closing stages to suggest he will appreciate the step up in distance. He’s very unexposed and this looks a good opportunity to open his account at the fourth time of asking.
Riding arrangements suggest Golden Arch is the pick of Doug Watson’s two runners, with stable jockey Dobbs choosing the son of Blame ahead of Cynical Point. Despite finishing last of six in a maiden at Meydan on his most recent run, he wasn’t beaten far having endured a tough, wide trip and it was a performance that can be upgraded.
He should enjoy a ground-saving trip from stall No 3 and looks the main threat to Alhzeem in a race that won’t take much winning.
BEST BET
Race 4 No 1 Justice Protecol
VALUE BET
Race 6 No 11 Cynical Point
BEST SWINGER
Race 5 6-Rakeez and 3-Daramethos
JACKPOT
(Races 4-7)
R48
Leg 1: 1, 3
Leg 2: 5, 6
Leg 3: 1, 6, 11, 13
Leg 4: 1, 3, 6