Ed Marnane
Approaching the halfway stage of the season, Australian Michael Costa is sitting at the top of the trainers’ table with an impressive tally of 22 wins, eight clear of Bhupat Seemar.
Costa, who has sent out a remarkable 16 winners at Jebel Ali this season, is represented in five of Jebel Ali’s seven races on Saturday, a fixture that has regrettably attracted small fields.
Sheikh Ahmad Al Maktoum-owned Turjman, runner-up in his two races since making his debut earlier in the campaign, represents Costa in the 1000m conditions race for three-year-olds, Race 3. He will take plenty of beating and doesn’t need to improve to open his account over a track he’s trained on.
Tadhg O’Shea, Bhupat Seemar’s stable jockey, has chosen to ride the well-bred Point Given, one of two runners from Zabeel Stables and the biggest threat to the selection. The son of Blue Point made a pleasing debut for Seemar at Abu Dhabi, just failing to hold the late burst of Tohoku. Switching to dirt is an obvious query, but his pedigree, being a grandson of Shamardal, fuels optimism he can handle the underfoot conditions.
Race 5, the 1200m handicap, for horses rated 0-100, is the most valuable race on the card. Nine horses head to post and My Dubawi, trained by Bhupat Seemar, returns after a 329-day absence. He caught the eye on his Jebel Ali debut 12 months ago, easily defeating Tabarak and Alkaraama, the 2020 Jebel Ali Sprint winner. He has a terrific record returning from a break, both for Seemar and his former trainer, Mark Johnston. He should go well under Tadhg O’Shea.
The local hope Mozahim, trained by Michael Costa, will welcome the return to Jebel Ali, a venue he has yet to taste defeat. Sent off favourite for a 1200m handicap at Meydan in late December, he made late progress to finish a never-nearer fourth, having got well behind in the early stages after an awkward start. After the race he scoped poorly, so in the circumstances it wasn’t a bad effort. He’s fancied to bounce back and is still very unexposed, unlike most of his rivals.
Musabbeh Al Mheiri introduces two interesting British imports, Manitou and Onight, with marginal preference for the latter. By Oasis Dream, a sire with a decent record in the UAE, he won half of his six races for Archie Watson.
It would be unwise to dismiss Asad Zabeel, Al Mheiri’s third runner. Owned and bred by Shadwell, he is taking a big drop in class, having failed to make telling impact behind Ponntos in the Listed Dubai Dash at Meydan. He only needs to recapture his third behind Secret Ambition in last season’s Jebel Ali Classic to get in the mix back in handicap company.
Condor Pasa, trained by Fawzi Nass, looks the answer in the six-runner 1000m handicap, race 4. He has shaped nicely in two runs in maidens at Jebel Ali since joining Nass and could be attractively handicapped off 80, while the step back to the minimum distance shouldn’t be a concern for a strong-travelling colt.
The consistent Laa Baas, second in two runs this season, heads the list of dangers, while Al Shibli likes it here and can’t be discounted. Simon and Ed Crisford introduced a nice European import Swing Vote at Jebel Ali seven days. The Rabbah Racing-owned Vespasian demands respect if taking to dirt on his UAE debut. A three-time winner in Britain, he has the services of Tadhg O’Shea, the champion jockey.
Mayaadeen has been knocking on the door since needing his seasonal debut earlier in the season, hitting the frame in his last two races, both competitive handicaps at Meydan. Doug Watson looks to have found a good opportunity for the Shadwell-owned gelding in the 1400m handicap, Race 2. He has a decent record at Jebel Ali and slipped in the ratings.
Dukedom, trained by Bhupat Seemar, is the main danger. He’s improving with racing this season and comes here on the back of a narrow defeat behind Haiuao Alarb at Sharjah.
The afternoon rounds off with a maiden, over 1800m and is a modest contest. On official ratings, Waqet sets the standard and can finally get off the mark at the fifteen time of asking. Musabbeh Al Mheiri’s six-year-old tried to make all in a similar event last month, but had no answer when Keffaaf pounced late. Waqet is a consistent sort and is fancied to see off the challenge of Al Ain runner-up Ezaj and Dark Candy, trained by Bhupat Seemar.
Best Bet: 5 Condor Pasa [Race 4]
Best Value: 3 Violent Justice [Race 6]
Best Swinger: 2 My Dubawi and 1 Asad Zabeel [Race 5]
JACKPOT
[Races 4-7]
R36
Leg 1: 3, 4, 5
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3
Leg 3: 3, 4
Leg 4: 3, 6