The racing action switches to Jebel Ali on Friday with an interesting six-race card highlighted by the Jebel Ali Mile Prep, over the same 1600m as the Jebel Ali Mile itself.
Trained on the course by Dhruba Selvaratnam, Forjatt has finished ‘first past the post’ in that Group Three feature in each of the last two years – though he was subsequently disqualified last year after testing positive for a prohibited substance.
He heads the weights in the race and arrives in impeccable form having won both the National Day Cup and the prep for the same Abu Dhabi feature.
Selvaratnam said: “He is fit, well and in great form. The penalty obviously makes life harder for him but he should run a big race.”
Among the opposition is Busatto, trained by Doug Watson and winner of both his course starts after a disappointing local debut on the turf at Abu Dhabi.
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Watson said: “He has clearly taken well to the dirt at Jebel Ali and this, basically, is the next step on his, hopefully, progressive ladder.”
Sefri was a good winner here at Jebel Ali three weeks ago, for Sheikh Hamdan and trainer Erwan Charpy. He looks the best of the rest.
The main support race is a 1200m conditions contest which could well develop into a match between the Selvaratnam-trained Sholaan and Sheikh Hamdan’s Mushaakis.
The latter, trained by Ali Rashid Al Raihe, has already won three times at Jebel Ali this season but faces a far stiffer task against quality opposition.
Sholaan looks the most likely winner, although it should be highlighted that the field also includes course specialists Kanaf, Al Razi and Art Wave.
