Reach High set for local debut at Jebel Ali

dubai — The 1600m handicap will be the highlight at Jebel Ali racing on Friday afternoon, a press release said.

All eyes will be on Godolphin’s Reach High, victorious in two of his three career starts to date. But he will be making his local and dirt debut here.

Trained by Saeed bin Suroor, the four-year-old homebred son of Distorted Humor was narrowly beaten on debut before winning his second juvenile outing at Ascot, in May 2016, beating no less than subsequent dual Group 1 winner Harry Angel, the world’s toprated sprinter of 2017.

He was not seen in a racecourse again until last October when he won a 1600m handicap on the all-weather at Kempton.

“He is a nice horse who has only had three starts but shown very good form, winning twice,” bin Suroor said. “He has been working very well, but this will be his first race on dirt and he needs to show he can handle it. He likes to race handily, so I guess that will be the plan. Hopefully the surface will not be a problem. We are hoping for a big run.”

Reach High and Doug Watson-trained Just a Penny, a fivetime Jebel Ali winner, have to concede weight to their eight rivals. Pat Dobbs chooses to partner Just a Penny over Resonant. Sam Hitchcott partners Resonant, whose sole UAE victory was achieved over this 1600m course and distance at the very first meeting of the season in November.

“It looks a strong race, but both of mine are in good form,” Watson said. “We know conditions suit them both and hopefully they will be competitive.”

Salem bin Ghadayer, with 10 winners so far, is the leading trainer at the track this season and his Ply will be running at Jebel Ali for the first time. Tadhg O’Shea takes the ride on a horse who arrived in the UAE on the back of three consecutive victories on the all-weather in England for previous trainer Roger Charlton.

He has been beaten badly in two Meydan dirt outings – both very competitive Dubai World Cup Carnival handicaps– by a total of 109 lengths. If he takes to this different surface and topography, he could bounce back having seemingly been given a chance by the handicapper.

“It looks a very nice spare ride,” O’Shea said. “His form in England looks very good.”