Ed Marnane
Michael Costa, the top trainer in the Emirates this season, has dominated Jebel Ali’s first two meetings, saddling seven winners at the Dubai track.
Costa, fresh from winning the Dubai Creek Mile (Listed) with Meshtri eight days ago, is represented in five of the seven races at Jebel Ali on Saturday.
In Race 3, the 1400m two-year-old conditions, he holds a strong hand with three runners and riding arrangements suggests Nahaash, the choice of stable jockey Ben Coen, is the most fancied of the trio.
The son of Mastery created a good impression on his racecourse debut at Jebel Ali, defeating Dark Saffron and stable companion Tawthig. The runner-up, trained by Ahmad bin Harmash, gave the form a big boost when running out a comfortable winner at Meydan last week.
Nahaash is a smart prospect and will take plenty of beating.
Rammayy, the mount of Ray Dawson, is the chief threat to his stable companion. He made a good start to his career when winning at the track two weeks ago, despite being lazy and looking green under Coen. He’s entitled to come forward for the run and demands plenty of respect.
Race 4, the 1400m handicap, is a competitive event despite only attracting seven runners, with recent Jebel Ali winner Street Mood looking to follow up. He caused a minor surprise when delivered with a well-timed challenge by Danny Tudhope to grab Haasim approaching the final 200m of the 1400m event and win going away. He needs to raise his game off a career-high rating and I’m happy to oppose him.
Costa’s Sadaaty, winner of two of his three runs at Jebel Ali, sets the standard and looks the one to beat, despite being off the track for nearly 12 months. He’s a lightly raced gelding and is open to further progress on just his sixth lifetime start.
Costa has a terrific record with horses returning from lengthy breaks.
Asad Zabeel, a winner at Meydan in February, struggled when raised in class for the rest of the season when making little impact in the Burj Nahaar and Jebel Ali Classic. From a yard enjoying a good season, he is feared down in class over a track he has run well on his first start of the campaign.
Bhupat Seemar’s Deep Hope arrives in the UAE with a decent record, winning nine times in France for former trainer Gianluca Bietolini. The switch to dirt is an obvious query and a watching brief looks the percentage call in this company.
Eight go to post for Race 5, the 1200m handicap. Kal Barg, representing Costa, has the benefit of a recent run at Abu Dhabi, where he finished a creditable second to Mountbatten.
Kal Barg can boast winning form at Jebel Ali, so the switch to dirt isn’t a concern. He was entitled to need his comeback and should be in the mix.
Yotarid, Costa’s second runner, is very unexposed and makes his handicap debut, four weeks after winning at Jebel Ali on his UAE debut after a lengthy layoff. The runner-up (Split The Profit) left the form down badly when trailing in a poor fifth behind Attwaal on his next start.
Haasim, trained by Musabbeh Al Mheiri, looks set for a big run on the back of two solid efforts at Jebel Ali this season. A consistent and reliable performer, he is proven under the conditions and has the services of the excellent Danny Tudhope.
Major Cinnamon, a shock winner at Jebel Ali on his final appearance last season, has fitness concerns off an eight-month break. He can’t be overlooked if fully tuned up under Andre de Vries.
Earlier on the afternoon 10 horses face the starter in Race 2, the 1400m maiden. Granted Wish, trained by Salem bin Ghadayer, shaped nicely behind Attwaal on his debut and has sound claims in the hands the in-form Bernardino Pinheiro. By top US sire Into Mischief, he is a big horse that is open to plenty of improvement and should be suited stepping up in distance.
In a moderate event Symbol Of Power and Mesyaal, who hail from top stables, merit respect. The latter, trained by Costa, has shown promise in two barrier trials at Meydan and this well-bred daughter of Cairo Prince won’t need to be above average to play a leading role on her racecourse debut.
Symbol Of Power, by Frankel, began life with Charlie Appleby for his owner-breeders Godolphin. He never threatened in two starts at Newmarket and Kempton before being sold for AED 25,000 (R125,000) at the ERA Horses-In-Training Sale in March.
He is a half-brother to the useful Desert Wisdom, who thrived when switched to dirt in the UAE and Al Mheiri will be hoping Symbol Of Power will take a big step forward on his dirt debut in a weak contest.
The final event, the 1800m maiden, is a poor race and looks a straight-forward task for Kibo Misaki to finally open her account at the eighth time of asking. She brings the best form having chased home Eruptive at Jebel Ali, two weeks after finishing a respectable second behind Gaassid on her seasonal debut.
Trained by Salem bin Ghadayer, she is hard to oppose.
Best Bet: Race 5 No 5 Haasim
Best Value: Race 2 No 8 Symbol Of Power
Best Swinger: Race 6: 3-Alwareeth and 1-Ghost Of The Mambo
JACKPOT
Races 4 to 7
R18
Leg 1: 3, 5, 6
Leg 2: 2, 4, 5
Leg 3: 1, 2
Leg 4: 5