Ed Marnane
The Group 3 Jebel Ali Mile, the biggest race of the season at the Jebel Ali racecourse on Saturday, has a rich history going back two decades and this year’s renewal has attracted a strong field.
Swing Vote, who began his career with Andre Fabre in France, has thrived since switching to dirt and joining Simon & Ed Crisford, winning a valuable handicap at Jebel Ali on his local debut before following up in the Jebel Ali Mile Trial last month.
The Shamardal gelding comes here in top form, is unbeaten at the track and will take plenty of stopping in the hands of William Buick, who is making a rare visit to the track.
Home Brew, trained at Jebel Ali by Michael Costa, is the highest rated horse in the field and is one to consider. A multiple winner for Brad Cox in the USA before joining Costa, he flopped on his UAE debut in the Dubai Creek Mile, trailing in a remote tenth behind Al Nefud.
He never travelled in the race, endured a troubled passage and post-race veterinary examination revealed the colt to have a wound on the left fore cannon. Costa has given Home Brew plenty of time to recover and he returns after a near three-month break. He can easily bounce back to his best and warrants respect.
Daramethos, who enjoyed the biggest success of his career when winning the Jebel Ali Stakes (Listed) 13 months ago, has nearly four lengths to find with Swing Vote when they clashed here three weeks ago. His form figures — 3132 — at Jebel Ali read well, suggesting he should be in the mix at his favourite venue. He holds each-way claims.
The pick of the undercard is the Jebel Ali Sprint, the third leg of the Emirates Sprint Series. The Listed race, over a distance of 1000m, is worth AED 500,000 (R2.5m) and the last three winners — Road Bloc, Khuzaam and Al Tariq — are among the 16 runners declared.
Ponntos, joined by Robert Cowell’s Democracy Dilemma, look to take the prize overseas, with preference for the former on his Jebel Ali debut. Trained by Miroslav Nieslanik in the Czech Republic, Ponntos impressed winning the Listed Dubai Dash at Meydan in December, dominating the Listed race from the front. Quickly away, he made all under a positive ride from Antonio Fresu and was never in trouble.
He was unable to follow up in the Blue Point Stakes, failing to see off the late burst of Godolphin’s Star Of Mystery, who was getting 7kg. Ponntos possesses bags of early speed and will be hard to peg back.
Michael Costa has a strong hand with three runners — Bilhayl, Kal Barg and Mozahim — and riding arrangements suggest the light-raced Bilhayl, the choice of Ben Coen is the main hope. He made late headway to chase home Ponntos at Meydan in December and switching to Jebel Ali, a track he is 2-5, should be thereabouts once again.
Mozahim, the mount of Johnatan Castano Mateus, is unbeaten at Jebel Ali and continues to improve since making his racecourse debut at the track in November. Rated 98, he does need to take a step forward but it would be foolish to ignore his claims on his Listed debut.
Leading Spirit, one of three runners representing Bhupat Seemar, is contesting the Jebel Ali Sprint for a fourth successive year. He’s admirable type, consistent and no stranger to success at the track. In a competitive renewal, he appeals, along with Rawy, wide-margin winner of the trial last month.
Earlier on the card, a field of eight go to post for the 1600m maiden, Race 2. Multiple UAE Champion jockey Tadhg O’Shea is booked to ride Eruptive, the son of Kitten’s Joy who showed improved form switching to Jebel Ali after struggling on his racecourse debut at Meydan. He holds obvious claims and remains open to further progress having just his third start in public.
Alajdl, trained by Doug Watson, was well-beaten on his debut before running better in a 16-runner maiden at Meydan, where he made late progress to finish nine lengths behind Al Arbed. He’s one to consider stepping up to a mile in a weaker race.
Race 3, Bismilah Alik must concede weight to his seven rivals in the 1600m conditions race, two weeks after shedding his maiden tag at Jebel Ali. He’s vulnerable under his penalty and preference is for Wafaytt, trained at Jebel Ali by Michael Costa.
A $400,000 (R7.5m) yearling purchase in the USA, he never threatened on his debut at Meydan, having jumped awkwardly, been bumped twice and raced green. He’s well regarded, and I expect he will leave that form well behind.
The finale, over 1800m, is the most competitive handicap on the programme, featuring three last-time out winners — Cosmic Desert, Violent Justice and Yurman — all at Jebel Ali. Of the trio, Violent Justice makes most appeal. He boasts a good record at Jebel Ali and showed a determined attitude to get the better of Eljenob over a mile last month. He should enjoy the stiffer test of stamina here and can take his tally at Jebel Ali to three under the talented Pat Dobbs.
Jebel Ali Saturday selections
Ed Marnane
Race 1: 14 RASHAD AL WATHBA 8 JINA’AN 1 AF RAMI 10 AF MARMUQ
Race 2: 1 ALAJDL 8 THEEBAN 3 ERUPTIVE 7 YUKON STAR
Race 3: 7 WAFAYTT 4 MY HONOR 1 BISMILAH ALIK 5 PHOENIX OF OMAN
Race 4: 2 PONNTOS 5 BILHAYL 14 RAWY 1 COLOUR UP
Race 5: 11 SWING VOTE 1 DARAMETHOS 2 HOME BREW 4 JUSTICE PROTECOL
Race 6: 9 EL INTROVERTIDO 3 MAPLEWOOD 4 MAYAADEEN 7 GARETH
Race 7: 2 VIOLENT JUSTICE 1 MAKFOUL 5 COSMIC DESERT 6 YURMAN
Best Bet: 7 Wafaytt (Race 3)
Best Value: 1 Daramethos (Race 5)
Best Swinger: 11 Swing Vote and 1 Daramethos (Race 5)