Musabah Al Muhairi-trained Art Wave looks good to dazzle at Jebel Ali

Peter Ward 21:31 09/12/2015
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  • All set: New jockey Fernando Jara.

    There may only be five runners in the featured 1400m handicap at Jebel Ali Friday, but a serious case can be made for each, including Art Wave and Not A Given, first and second in a course and distance handicap two weeks ago.

    Trained by Musabah Al Muhairi, Art Wave has always had bags of potential but has never appeared the most straightforward and has thrown away at least one race he should have won.

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    That was not the case a fortnight ago though when, ridden for the first time by new stable jockey Fernando Jara, he hit the front 200m out and ran strongly to the line.

    Jara said: “I was warned he was not the easiest before the race so was determined and prepared to make sure, if we hit the front, we would stay there.

    “All credit to the horse, he responded to my urgings and won well. He is probably my best ride on the card.”

    Not A Given was far from disgraced on that occasion and meets Art Wave on better terms this time. Tadhg O’Shea again rides for trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe.

    O’Shea said: “He ran a good race the last day and, at the weights, we have a decent chance with Art Wave. That said, however, I think the top one, Mashaaref, is the one we all have to beat.”

    Mashaaref, a winner over track and trip when last seen four weeks ago, is a stable companion of Art Wave and is one of three rides on the card for Paul Hanagan, Sheikh Hamdan’s ‘first’ jockey and returning to local action after his UK campaign. Dane O’Neill, the owner’s ‘second’ jockey, was in the saddle when Mashaaref won, impressively, four weeks ago. As obvious as the claims of Hanagan’s mount are, he may struggle to confirm last month’s form with Shamaal Nibras, third on that occasion but winner of this race last year.

    The quintet is completed by Al Razi, with Richard Mullen riding for Satish Seemar. He could be deemed a course specialist, with six Jebel Ali wins to his name, but he was fourth behind Art Wave and Not A Given on his seasonal bow.

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