Season’s first race day attracts quality field
dubai — Godolphin return to Jebel Ali Racecourse after 14 years as the UAE horse racing season kicks off on Friday with a six-race card highlighted by a 1000m handicap, a Press releases said.
Godolphin have two runners on this card with Saeed bin Suroor saddling both. The Emirati trainer’s last visit to Jebel Ali produced a double in February 2003, while the Godolphin blue was last victorious on the course in February 2001 when Festival Of Light, saddled by Bin Suroor, was a winner.
Fans of the world’s biggest international stable don’t have to wait long as Pat Cosgrave is all set to combine with the Godolphin team aboard Military Parade in the opening 1950m handicap.
His 15 rivals include Asatir, winner of the same race last year for Erwan Charpy. Adrie de Vries partners the second Godolphin contender, Perfect Sense, one of 13
We know the track suits him (Sholaan) well and he is in good form at home but he has been off a long while and it looks a hot race
declared for a 1200m handicap.
Bin Suroor, whose two runners are both three-year-old maidens, said: “This year we have a few horses suitable for some of the early season races so we have shipped them to Dubai.
“It will give us an opportunity to assess them with regards to their future plans. Hopefully they can progress through the ranks.”
Meanwhile, the feature race has attracted a quality field of 12, including Sholaan, trained on the track by Gopi Selvaratnam.
Gopi Selvaratnam has replaced his recently retired brother, Dhruba, as the chief trainer.
Off the track since contesting the equivalent race last year, Sholaan is a dual course and distance winner, albeit in 2014 and has not won since the second of those victories,
Gopi Selvaratnam
almost three years ago.
“We know the track suits him well and he is in good form at home but he has been off a long while and it looks a hot race,” says Selvaratnam. “He should run well but will improve for the run after a year off.” He will be ridden by Tom Marquand, making his UAE debut on the day with five races on the card.
Apart from Sholaan, three more among the declared dozen have been off the track for a year. Satwa Story will be seeking to overcome a long absence of 1007 days, having not been seen in public since the win over 1200m at Meydan in January, 2015.
One of three in the race for Satish Seemar, he is the choice of stable jockey, Richard Mullen. “He is a horse we have al- ways held in very high regard but has had his fair share of niggles and small problems,” Mullen said.
“It will be his first try at Jebel Ali and over 1000m but we hope it will suit him. Fingers crossed, we can keep him sound and enjoy a good season with the horse.” The race is sponsored by Shadwell, the worldwide breeding empire of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and the UAE Minister of Finance, whose blue and white colours will be carried by both Sahaafy and Kasb, trained by Maria Ritchie and Ali Rashid Al Rayhi respectively.
Portamento, trained by Al Rayhi and the mount of stable jockey, Tadhg O’Shea, makes his UAE debut having previously raced for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin. The Five year old has not been seen on a racecourse since August 2015.
The next six-card race will be held in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.