Bringing down the curtain

RACECOURSE HOSTS FINAL MEETING OF DOMESTIC SEASON

One more night to go for glory as Jebel Ali Racecourse hosts its final meeting of the UAE domestic season |

Jebel Ali Racecourse host their final meeting of the UAE domestic season this evening with the feature race being the second running of the Jebel Ali Classic (Silver Jubilee) Stakes.

The 1,400-metre contest is sponsored by Shadwell Farm, the US arm of the breeding empire of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, who is represented in the race by Taamool and Shaishee.

Dane O’Neill, Shaikh Hamdan’s retained jockey has opted to ride the former for Ali Rashid Al Rayhi with Shaishee, trained by Musabah Al Muhairi, the mount of Emirati apprentice Saeed Al Mazroui.

Taamool has produced some creditable efforts in both the Group 3 Al Shindagha Sprint and the Group 3 Jebel Ali Mile, where he finished fourth.

O’Neill said: “He has run well at Jebel Ali, which is always a positive, and this is a step down in grade for him so, hopefully, he will appreciate that and should run a big race.”

Shaishee holds the 1,400metre Jebel Ali track record which he set in January 2014.

However, in a rather strong looking renewal of the Silver Jubilee, it is the Doug Watson-trained Cosmo Charlie, winner of the Listed Al Bastakiya on Super Saturday last year, who appeals most.

Fresh from recently winning a sixth UAE trainer’s

championship, Watson won the inaugural running of this race last year with Shamaal Nibras, who will sidestep this race in favour of a shot at the $1-million Godolphin Mile on the Dubai Word Cup card next Saturday.

However, Watson is still well represented in the 12-runner contest with Cosmo Charlie and Thegreatcollection.

Sam Hitchcott rides the former with Fernando Jara coming in for the ride on Thegreatcollection, a winner on the same November Meydan card as Cosmo Charlie.

Watson said: “Obviously, it is the last race of the season for both and neither have run at Jebel Ali so it is a good opportunity to try them there with regards to opening up options for next season. They seem in good form at home and, with luck, should both be thereabouts in a competitive little race.”

Sholaan represents racecourse patron, Major General Shaikh Ahmad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Chief of Dubai Police and Public Security.