Al Muhairi in form in Dubai
FEATURE: KANAF HAS BIG CHANCE IN CONDITIONS PLATE AT JEBEL ALI
Encipher rated the main danger
Dubai
Musabah Al Muhairi found Jebel Ali a happy hunting ground last season and he has bright prospects of getting among the winners tomorrow with a strong team, saddling runners in four of the six races.
In the feature, a Conditions Plate over 1400m rated, course specialist Kanaf looks a leading player and can secure another valuable prize for the Emirati this season at Jebel Ali after Fityaan landed the opening day highlight two weeks ago.
Kanaf, a four-time winner at Jebel Ali last term, made a pleasing comeback after his summer break here, staying on nicely in the closing stages to finish a creditable fourth behind his stable companion Fityaan over the minimum distance.
Kanaf, to be ridden by the inform Dane O’Neill, will relish the step up in distance today and is fancied to be sharper for the race.
On the official handicap ratings Encipher, a winner at Oman in April last time, rates the obvious threat for his powerful trainer/ jockey combination.
The lack of a recent run shouldn’t be considered negative, as the trainer is renowned for having his charges primed off the back of a layoff, plus the son of Elusive Quality has gone well fresh in the past. He even won on his seasonal debut at Jebel Ali 12 months ago.
Yaa Wayl, the local hope for trainer Dhruba Selvaratnam, is a decent performer on his day but isn’t straightforward and, off the back of a lengthy break makes limited appeal despite conditions stacked in his favour. The yard has made a quiet start to the new season, adding to the doubts, and the five-year-old is best watched on his seasonal reappearance.
Meydan-based French trainer Erwan Charpy has endured a couple of quiet seasons but could strike with Australian-bred Pied A Terre.