Ajtebi debuts at venue in fighting form

Dubai: Breeders Cup sensation Ahmad Ajtebi makes his seasonal UAE debut at the Jebel Ali racecourse today.

Ajtebi, who cemented his place in the history books last Saturday when winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile on Godolphin's Vale of York, rides Emirates Line in the opening 1,950-metre handicap. Ajtebi's phenomenal season has included two major successes at the Dubai World Cup meeting in March.

The feature race is once again sponsored by Shadwell, the breeding arm of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance.

Eleven runners have been declared for the 1,600-metre handicap worth Dh100,000. Champion Trainer Doug Watson is responsible for three of the runners, as is former champion Erwan Charpy.

Watson's trio are the top three on the racecard with the weights headed by Fares, the mount of Daragh O'Donohoe and a winner at the 2009 Dubai International Racing Carnival, as was stable companion Clasp. Apprentice Charles Eddery is an interesting jockey booking for the latter, while Tadhg O'Shea partners Arqaam, the third Watson runner.

This trip could be on the sharp side for him but, if he does not miss the break as he has in the past, he should be staying on strongly.

Charpy's trio appear to be headed by Mister Fasliyev who goes well on the course and is to be ridden by David Badel, with Matthew Henry's mount Stepping Up perhaps the next best of Charpy's runners.

Not to be ignored

With Satish Seemar saddling a double last week, Rochefort cannot be ignored, while Meeriss is trained on the track by Dhruba Selvaratnam.

Ali Rashid Al Raihe's Jet Express will go close if truly staying the 1,600m, while Igor Protti looked a serious racehorse when winning at the Carnival for Godolphin in 2008.

He is now trained by Abdullah Bin Huzaim, as is course winner Plavius and both can go well in a wide-open contest. Selvaratnam's Mannjal looks sure to be a popular choice in the 1,200-metre handicap.