Just A Penny Makes Perfect Sense In Friday Jebel Ali Feature
Racing at Jebel Ali on Friday afternoon was highlighted by a 1600m handicap which, on paper, looked competitive but from little after halfway involved only one horse, Just A Penny, five times a course winner previously, all his career victories. Sent straight to the front by Pat Dobbs, sporting the colours of Mohd Khalifa Al Basti, Just A Penny always looked happy, bowling along in a steady rhythm and, before the ten runners had even turned for home, it was clear most of his nine rivals were in big trouble.
Asked to lengthen by Dobbs, he shot clear with about 500m remaining and, from that moment, never looked likely to be caught. Flashy Snapper and Reach High, who both raced fairly prominently, gave vain chase, finishing a distant second and third in that order.
“He is a lot better horse when able to get to that rail and out in the lead because he does not like horses on his inside,” trainer Doug Watson said. “He seems to come good about this time of year and won on this card two years ago. He has won over 1200m, 1400m, 1600m and 1800m here at Jebel Ali where, when things go his way, he is a good horse. He has probably won a bit too easily today so we will just have to wait and see what the handicapper does before making firm plans.”
Thirteen contested the opening 1950m handicap but very few were able to get competitive with Piepowder Court and Pat Cosgrave soon at the head of affairs. Entering the long Jebel Ali straight, they were headed by Darkening and Adrie de Vries, but in behind Dobbs was travelling ominously well on Hawker. In a virtual carbon copy of their December course and distance victory, they eased to the front 300m out and ran on strongly to the line. Piepowder Court, on his first start for more than a year, battled on dourly to claim second.
By Ritesh Jamkhedkar - ritesh.jamkhedkar@secretariatsworld.com