Fifth Chengdu Dubai International Cup
The landmark fifth Chengdu Dubai International Cup will be held at Jinma lake Racecourse later this week. The annual event features horses, jockeys and trainers from Dubai Racing Club, as well as local jockeys from China.
This year will also mark the second running of the Chengdu Dubai International Jockeys’ Challenge, where a group of five Chinese jockeys will battle against eight jockeys who competed in the 2017-18 Dubai Racing Club season. Ma Liankai Li Jiafei, He Xianfei, Wang Wenxun and Chen Yi comprise the Chinese contingent, while Fernando Jara, Richard Mullen, Patrick Dobbs, Samuel Hitchcott, Antonio Fresu, Tadhg O'Shea, Adam Mclean, and Jesus Rosales represent the international riders.
Top Dubai-based conditioners, all of whom have held the title of champion trainer of the UAE, will be represented, including reigning three-time titleholder Doug Watson, Erwan Charpy, Satish Seemar, Musabbeh Al Mheiri and Ali Rashid Al Rayhi. Al Mheiri currently leads the tally as most successful Chengdu Dubai International Cup trainer with six wins.
Bhupat Seemar, assistant trainer to Satish Seemar, said: “We have brought six horses and at least four should be competitive. I would think Moonlight Bar and Ejbaar would be our best chances. It just keeps getting better here. The facilities, the track and the infrastructure, have all improved.”
The aforementioned sentiments were echosed by Al Mheiri assistant Maria Ritchie and Watson assistant Noel Connolly.
“I enjoy coming back here and the horses really thrive here,” Ritchie said. “I have three horses being ridden by Chinese jockeys. We brought 11 horses and our three best chances are in the (Wenjiang-Meydan Classic) with Billingsgate, Muhtaram and Special Boy.”
“We have brought 15 horses,” Connolly added. “They are all eating well and training well, so we are pleased. In the first race, we have three local jockeys riding for us and that is exciting for us. We are focused on making sure the horses are well and hopefully we will get a couple of winners, as well.”
Multiple meet-winning jockey Jesus Rosales and 2007 Dubai World Cup and 2006 Belmont Stakes-winning jockey Fernando Jara are each be back for a series of mounts.
Credit:Dubai Racing Club//ERA