HAYES SEES NINE-YEAR-OLD TO A SECOND JEBEL ALI MILE
Stable silks fluttered gloriously in the cool air as the duo flashed past the winning post.
Shamaal Nibras, ridden by Sam Hitchcott for Doug Watson, stayed on for second with Jebel Ali specialist Art Wave 3 ½ lengths back in third. “I have always said he’s the yard favourite, he’s a legend,” said a delighted Hayes.
“I’ve ridden him a couple of times last year and have a great strike rate on him.
“That trial run [December 23], really set him right and all he was doing was grinding it out from two out.”
Hayes admitted that it was not all smooth sailing and that he had a bit of a scare as the field straightened for home,
“They went a good solid pace, I was happy to follow Sam, as I thought he’d be the main danger,” said the Irish rider.
“I was a little worried turning in as they half quickened away from me and I thought old age might catch up with him but he quickened up nicely in the end and got me out of trouble.”
Selvaratnam’s tribute
Thursday’s win by Forjatt helped him cement his place among the great horses to have been trained by Selvaratnam for the racecourse’s patron, Maj Gen Shaikh Ahmad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Chief of Dubai Police and Public Security.
“Last year was a disaster and I wanted to right the wrong and thankfully we did,” added Hayes, in a nod to dropping his whip during the race.
“But it feels amazing to be part of Jebel Ali history and to have had the privilege to ride such a great horse for Shaikh Ahmad and Dhruba. Selvaratnam acknowledged that Forjatt was right up there with some of the best horses he has ever trained during his 25 years as head of the Jebel Ali Stables.
“For me, one of the things that keeps me going is training horses like him and what could be more special than to win this race in our anniversary year,” he said.
Past champions of Jebel Ali Racecourse include Azhar, Faltaat, Ramp and Rave, Try Prospect, Mudallel, Marbush and Seihali.
“This is a dream come true and I’m sure it will make Shaikh Ahmad proud.
“We have a great team here at Jebel Ali who work hard for occasions like these and this is their reward.”