Racing returns to the UAE at Jebel Ali Friday afternoon and Champion Trainer Musabah Al Muhairi is seeking to complete a hat-trick in the featured 1,000m handicap for himself and Sheikh Hamdan.
The pair combine with two of the seven runners this year, including Fityaan, successful 12 months ago and again the choice of jockey Dane O’Neill, retained by the owner.
That leaves Pierantonio Convertino, riding in the UAE for the first time, to partner stable companion Rafeej, who has to concede weight to his six rivals.
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O’Neill said: “These choices are never easy but I won the race on Fityaan last year so it makes sense to stick with him. Rafeej also runs well fresh and should not be far away.”
Sheikh Hamdan also owns the Ali Rashid Al Raihe-trained duo of Mujaazef and Nawwaar with the latter to be partnered by Tadhg O’Shea, recently appointed stable jockey for Al Raihe.
O’Shea said: “I am really looking forward to getting started in the new job and obviously hoping for a good season. Nawwaar is fit and well but perhaps better on turf and I think Rafeej will be hard to beat.”
Dhruba Selvaratnam trains on the track, predominantly for racecourse patron Sheikh Ahmed and they combine with Morawij, the mount of Chris Hayes, another jockey making his local debut.
The yard are also represented by Roicead, third in the race in 2013 and fifth last year when one place ahead of Kilt Rock who completes the septet this year.
Second to Rafeej on his most recent outing, he is trained by Doug Watson, a handler who appears to hold major claims throughout the card.
Looks like Fernando Jaro is the man to fill the void at Musabah Al Muhairi’s yard, as was due to be the case 12 months ago
— Stephen Molyneux (@SMolyneux79) October 25, 2015
Watson said: “He normally needs his first run of the season but is fit and well. He gets weight from Rafeej and Fityaan which can only help. He should run well and we know he likes the track.”
Among Watson’s leading hopes would appear to be Mizbah who will seek to win the opening 1,950m handicap for the second year in succession. He will be ridden by Champion Jockey Richard Mullen who will be hoping to get his title defence off to a flying start.
Mullen, stable jockey to Satish Seemar who is not represented in the race, added: “It looks a great spare ride and Doug and his team sound hopeful. It is always nice to get an early winner on the board and this looks a decent chance to do so.”
