Draco looks to lay down law in Jebel Ali feature
DUBAI: The 3-year-olds take centre stage at Friday’s penultimate Jebel Ali ixture of 2018 with ten of the classic generation declared for a 1600m conditions race in which Draco will look to build on his scintillating local debut four weeks ago.
Trained on the Jebel Ali track by Nicholas Bachalard for racecourse patron Sheikh Ahmed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Draco and Tadhg O’shea landed a 1400m conditions event, also restricted to 3-year-olds, on that occasion to provide the trainer a first winner since taking over at the adjacent Jebel Ali Stables.
A 3-year-old son of Astrology, Draco was making a winning local debut and doubling his career tally having landed his third and final start in his native US.
That was over 1100m at Gulfstream Park last September, but he certainly had no problems seeing out the 1400m four weeks ago. Stable jockey Chris Hayes, who partnered Forjatt to a second National Day Cup (Listed) victory last week for owner and trainer, is in the saddle on Friday.
Assuming the extra distance does not catch him out, and despite a penalty for that local debut victory, on official ratings he is very much the one to beat.
“Draco won well first time and has been in good form since,” Bachalard said.
“We are looking forward to running him again but he does have a lot of natural speed, so the extra 200m is something of an unknown.”
Course and distance winner Jadir, who posted his sole career victory to date in a maiden in February on his final start of last season, should appreciate competing against his own age group after two heavy defeats in Jebel Ali handicaps so far during this campaign.
Richard Mullen will be aboard the Satish Seemar trainee.
Assistant trainer Bhupat Seemar said: “We know conditions suit him and it is never easy for the 3-year-olds against their elders in those handicaps, so this race against his own age group looks a good one for him.”
Ahmad Bin Harmash saddles both Rua Augusta and Sa’ada with stable jockey Connor Beasley choosing the latter, the only filly in the race, and a distant fourth in last season’s UAE Oaks (G3) at Meydan.