Selvaratnam can end 10-year drought in Jebel Ali Sprint

Peter Ward 07:55 03/03/2016
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  • Selva’s big hope: Morawij.

    The third and final big race of the Jebel Ali season, the 1000m Listed Jebel Ali Sprint, is the highlight of the track’s penultimate meeting on Friday afternoon and it looks a wide open renewal.

    The course and distance prep a fortnight ago was won by the Dhruba Selvaratnam-trained United Color, who ran on strongly to deny stable companion, Morawij.

    A race first run in 1994, Selvaratnam, who trains on the track predominantly for racecourse patron Sheikh Ahmed, saddled the winner in each of the first four runnings, but surprisingly, has only won it once since, with Raging Creek in 2006.

    He has three runners among the 13 declared this time with stable jockey, Chris Hayes, riding United Color, successful under Wayne Smith in the prep when Hayes was aboard Morawij.

    Smith rides Morawij this time and the pair is owned by Sheikh Ahmed, while the trainer’s third runner, Speed Hawk, a recent addition to the yard, will sport the mainly pink silks of Khalifa Dasaml.

    Selvaratnam said: “It looks a very competitive renewal this year. We thought United Color would need the run last time and he surprised us. Morawij had a penalty that day but does not this time and there should be little between them.

    “Speed Hawk seems to handle the surface in the mornings and has good Meydan dirt form so is a nice new horse to have in the yard.”

    Doug Watson won this in 2009 with Hammadi and his representative this year, My Catch, looks a major player. He has been running well at the Meydan Carnival.

    The last six renewals of the race have been shared between Musabah Al Muhairi and Satish Seemar whose 2011 winner Spin Cycle runs in the race for a sixth consecutive year.

    Second last year, one place in front of Morawij, he had no answer to the Al Muhairi-trained Muarrab, a Super Saturday runner this year.

    Al Muhairi saddles four with Fernando Jara aboard At Wave and Selva’s big hope: Morawij. Paul Hanagan choosing Ajraam.

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