Dhruba Selvaratnam - 25 Years At Jebel Ali Stables & Racecourse
Champion trainer Dhruba Selvaratnam has several horses in trainer but one intended runner for the Golden Shaheen on Dubai World Cup night –Morawij. He has been training horses at Jebel Ali Horses and Stables for over 25 years. Selvaratnam first came over from Ireland on 4 November 1990, after a fateful meeting with HH Shiekh Ahmed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum in London.
Q - What were your favorite horses as an assistant trainer and then as a trainer?
A - The best horses I’ve worked with during my time as an assistant are Saddlers Wells, El Gran Senor, Alleged, Storm Bird, Thatching, Law Society and Kings Lake. And the best horses I’ve trained are Fantastic (winner of 4 classics in Pakistan), Faltaat, Shuhailaan, Forjatt, Jaasoos, Ramp and Rave, Mudallel, Morawij, Market Rally and Seihali.
Q - How did you celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Jebel Ali Stables and Racecourse?
A - There was a great celebration on 20 January 2017 at the racecourse and we also had a grand function on 17 March 2017 at The Westin Dubai.
Q - Could you please describe the layout and size/ scale of the racecourse?
A - Following specifications laid down by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the track and grandstand were constructed in 1990. A further level was added to the grandstand in 1995 to accommodate corporate hospitality guests. Today there are two grand stands to accommodate the VIPs, the race sponsors and the public.
The racecourse is 2000 meters , horse shoe shaped track with the last four hundred meters climbing to the finish line. The track itself is right handed. One can train a horse right handed or left handed but you still climb to the end.
The surface is desert sand mixed with used mobil oil, which gives the sand more body.
Q - How would you describe the Dubai World Cup?
A - The atmosphere on Dubai World Cup day is quite electric. The best horses in the world compete on the day.
Q - What do enjoy about Dubai? Tell us a bit more about your family.
A - I like living in Dubai. It offers a very multi-cultural society where the residents have a lot of respect for each other. My family lived here for 12 years and are back in Ireland now.
Photo credit: Dubai Racing Club // Andrew Watkins