The first race of the UAE racing season, will be held at Sheikh Ahmed's glamorous Jebel Ali track. The feature of the day is a 1400m handicap which has attracted a very competitive field of 13.
Sheikh Ahmed's own horses will be competing for this crown jewel of the day. Their trainer, Nicholas Bachalard is the new incumbent at the Jebel Ali Stables.
Stable jockey Chris Hayes, has elected to ride dirt debutant Haalick, leaving reigning UAE champion jockey Tadhg O’Shea, now based with Satish Seemar at Zabeel Stables alongside Richard Mullen, a nice spare ride on Sholaan.
Haalick, who has only four local outings on his resume since arriving in the UAE two years ago, was a very useful performer in the UK, including a win in the 1400m Listed Spring Cup Stakes on the Lingfield all-weather in March 2016. Meanwhile, Sholaan is a Jebel Ali regular with three course victories to his name; twice at 1200m and once over 1000m. Still, he has shown the ability to stay 1400m, as shown when chasing home Cosmo Charlie in the valuable Jebel Ali Classic (Silver Jubilee) during their final fixture of last season.
Bachalard, who saddled Nashmiah from his previous Saudi Arabia base for an historic win in the 2017 UAE 1000 Guineas, has been an instant hit with local media.
The headliner in the race is the aforementioned Cosmo Charlie, victorious in the 1900m Listed Al Bastakiya on Super Saturday 2017 at Meydan, as well as his Jebel Ali Classic win in March. The pupil of reigning UAE champion trainer Doug Watson is the mount of Pat Dobbs and will look to return to the form that saw him run a good second to subsequent Godolphin Mile winner Heavy Metal in February’s Gr.3 Firebreak Stakes. The son of Travers Stakes winner Stay Thirsty has won four of 11 and boasts earnings of US $325,517.
Watson, who also saddles dirt debutant Dream Dubai under Sam Hitchcott, said: “There are no turf races for Dream Dubai at the moment. With him training so well, this looked a good opportunity to try him at Jebel Ali. Cosmo Charlie won there at the end of last season, over this course and distance, so should go well, but it is their first race of the campaign, so we see how fit they actually are.”
The last time Royston Ffrench was in action at Jebel Ali he suffered a nasty fall which ruled him out of the saddle for seven months. He partners High On Life for Sandeep Jadhav, embarking on his first full season having been appointed at Fazza Racing Stables in March, immediately saddling the aforementioned Heavy Metal to his Dubai World Cup card triumph.
The sponsor’s world famous blue and white silks will be carried by Zainhom and Shajjy with retained jockey, Dane O’Neill, opting to ride the former. Both are trained by Musabbeh Al Mheiri, who will be looking to make a quick start now back at the helm at Oasis 1 Stables.
Jebel Ali regulars should note all 11 meetings this season are seven races. Start times will consequently be earlier. This week, the first race at 2:00 p.m. As a result of the extra contest, the feature race becomes race four and the on-course tipping competitions now feature a Pick 7 with tricast options for all races.
Press Release and News Credited To Emirates Racing Authority (ERA)