Sport | Horse Racing
Adi has high hopes for stable star
Trainer Adi Selvaratnam is hoping his star sprinter Salaam Dubai can deliver a strong performance at today's Jebel Ali season opener and seal an invitation to next month's prestigious Hong Kong International Race.
- Staff Report
- Published: 23:35 November 20, 2008
Dubai: Trainer Adi Selvaratnam is hoping his star sprinter Salaam Dubai can deliver a strong performance at today's Jebel Ali season opener and seal an invitation to next month's prestigious Hong Kong International Race.
Salaam Dubai is picked to win the featured sprint where he will face 11 rivals including Dubai Golden Shaheen (Gr 1) third Star Crowned.
Commenting on his stable star's prospects Selvaratnam told the Dubai Racing Club: "We are training him with a view to running him in Hong Kong.
"We haven't had an invitation yet, but hopefully with a good run on Friday, we might get one next week. He's seven years old, so he's not getting any faster but should be showing the same level of form as he has done over the last couple of seasons.
"We're hoping he finishes in the first two; Star Crowned looks like he'll be the one to beat."
Both horses were last seen in action in the Group 1 KrisFlyer International Sprint in Singapore in May, and the duo are being pointed at the Hong Kong races on December 13, with Star Crowned nominated for the Mile and Salaam Dubai for the Sprint at Sha Tin.
Rashed Bouresly, trainer of Star Crowned, also runs League Champion in the same race, who has been nominated for the Sprint. Star Crowned fared better in Singapore, finishing fifth to Takeover Target, with Salaam Dubai back in ninth.
But the Sri Lankan-born Selvaratnam believes his seven-year-old should have finished further up the field.
"We were drawn on the outside, and the horse inside him broke his leg so the jockey had to check and that cost him ground," he said.
"I am not saying he would have won or anything like that, but he might have got a bit closer."
Salaam Dubai, who was third in the 2007 Group 1 US$2million Dubai Golden Shaheen, sponsored by Gulf News, won the corresponding race at Jebel Ali last year.
As well as hoping for back-to-back wins in the contest, Selvaratnam will be hoping for a double on the card, as he unveils a new recruit in the shape of Alto Stratus, who runs in the 1200m maiden.
The three-year-old is well regarded by his trainer and is the mount of Dubai World Cup-winning rider Fernando Jara.
"I have a few Southern Hemisphere three-year-olds and this one looks pretty exciting," Selvaratnam said.
"Although Dhruba (his brother, who is based at Jebel Ali) could hold the key with Chun Tosaigh, and home advantage could tell for him."
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