Dubai: Over the years flat racing in the UAE has been dominated by locally-based expatriate trainers. But the latest trends reveal a surprising shift in who’s calling the shots when it comes to leading in the winners.
Five of the seven races held at Meydan Racecourse’s first meeting of the new season on Thursday were won by Emirati handlers with reigning UAE champion Doug Watson and former champion Satish Seemar squeezing out a victory each on the rich Emirates Airline sponsored card.
Al Aasfa Racing Stables’ Ahmad Bin Harmash set the ball rolling when he claimed the opening Emirates Holidays juvenile maiden with Don’t Lite Kitten paving the way for more Emirati successes, fittingly on UAE Flag Day.
Thirty minutes later Helal Al Alawi, who is based at rapidly growing The National Stables, celebrated a first thoroughbred victory when Long Water landed the Emirates Sky Cargo handicap.
Al Alawi sent out 20 Purebred Arabian winners last season but said that he was now spreading his focus to thoroughbreds for the new season.
“I only had my first Thoroughbred runners last season and it is great to have the first winner,” he said.
“We actually thought he [Long Water] would win at Jebel Ali last week [2nd to Fast Enough] and hopefully we can have another good season.
“I have some nice horses which I am looking forward to seeing perform. So there is a lot to look forward to.”
Fazza Racing Stable’s Salem Bin Ghadayer had a relatively quiet 2015-2016 season but wasted no time to get off the mark with local debutant Criminalistic in the Arabian Adventures Maiden before experienced endurance-cum-flat trainer Esmail Mohammad’s Stormadal seized a third victory at Meydan,
Dutch rider Adrie De Vries, who did the steering, described the race: “I had a nice draw in one. They went pretty quick and I was always happy in behind the speed.
“This horse loves the dirt and, importantly, does not mind the kickback so I could stay on the inside.
“A gap opened when I needed it and he quickened well to win nicely.”
Oasis 1 handler Musabah Al Muhairi capped a memorable night for Emirati handlers when Ajraam ground out a gritty victory over Speedy Move in the 1200m emirates.com Handicap. Ajraam was repeating his victory of 12 months earlier in the same race and winning jockey Fernando Jara revealed that he had actually thought he had lost in the ultra-close finish to Richard Mullen, the rider of Speedy Move.
“I actually thought we had been caught,” said Panama-born Jara. “Luckily for me my horse is very brave and has just held on.
“We thought he would run well as his work at home had been good.”
However, the featured Emirates Airline Handicap was won for the second year running by Watson’s Etijaah, one of three winners on the night representing champion owner Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance.
“We thought we had him as straight as we could for this first run back,” said Watson. “We know he goes well fresh so we came here full of hope and Dane [O’Neill] gave him a great ride.
“We will probably look for something with him in December and, hopefully, he will be able to get a run in a race at the Dubai World Cup Carnival next year.”
Zabeel Stables boss Satish Seemar won with his 13th runner of the night.
Have been out of luck in the first six race Seemar’s finally found himself in the winner’s circle after Mister Parma flew home to victory in the Emirates Skywards Handicap under stable jockey Richard Mullen.
