Dubai: Former UAE champion trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe kept sponsors, guests and members of the media entertained with his unique blend of humour and humility as he talked up the chances of his runners at a pre-event press conference at Jebel Ali Racecourse on Tuesday.
Acknowledging that the strength of his horses for this weekend’s meeting were not as he hoped, he was nonetheless hopeful of some good performances.
“This week’s Jebel Ali card looks strong and competitive and perhaps we don’t have big chances,” said the Emirati, who is the most successful trainer at the venue this season with seven wins from 32 runners.
“However, our horses have been running well at Jebel Ali so we have got to be hopeful.”
Commenting on his observation about stable veteran Tamaathul’s career-first run at the venue in the CBD Handicap over 1,200 metres, Al Raihe said: “True, he’s mostly been campaigned at Meydan. But the results have not been that encouraging the past two seasons.
“He’s a nice honest horse, however, he has not won since January 2013. He was runner-up on three occasions, so we thought of bringing him to Jebel Ali to see how he handles the track and the hill. He’s been a good servant to the stable and deserves a chance to prove himself at this track.”
When asked to select his best chances for Friday, Al Raihe said with a smile: “I keep being asked this question so many times at press conferences, by friends and at the racecourse.
“I tell them I don’t know. If I name a horse and he loses, then I’m in trouble. If I don’t name a horse and he wins, I’m also in trouble,” added the 2011-2012 champion handler.
“So the best answer is to say I don’t know,” he said with a laugh. “Racing is an unpredictable business, that’s what makes it so interesting. Even trainer’s don’t sometimes know how a horse will run.”
However, he maintained that his runners on Friday at not without a chance.
“I’m expecting Lanark to run well in the feature [Shadwell Handicap, 180m] although it a strong race,” he said. “He won at the track earlier this year and has been working well.
“We also expect Street Act [Ascana Handicap, 1800m] to run well. We know he goes well at Jebel Ali and he has been working well at home. He’s a consistent and useful horse at Grandstand Stables.”
The press conference where Al Raihe was speaking was also attended by Mirza Al Sayegh, Director of the Office of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, who is the chief patron of the racecourse; Shareef Al Halawani, Jebel Ali Racecourse Manager, and representatives of the sponsors Al Hudaiba Contracting Co, Al Shafar Investment, CBD and Al Rammal Engineering Co.
Yasir Mabrouk, the ERA’s senior Clerk of the Scales. commented: “This is an exciting card with the highlight being the Shadwell Handicap.
“All six races look competitive with several Jebel Ali regulars back in action. Racegoers are in for an entertaining afternoon’s racing.”
