Dubai: Emirati handler Musabah Al Muhairi will bid to close the gap on rival Doug Watson in the UAE trainers’ championship as he returns to his favourite hunting ground at Jebel Ali Racecourse on Friday.
The Oasis Stables boss saddled 21 winners at the track last season, far more than any other professional, and appears to have strong claims in most of the afternoon’s six races, all of which are sponsored by Emirates airline.
Heading the Al Muhairi challenge is wannabe stable-star Silver Galaxy, a dual winner at the course, who looks the pick of the five runners contesting the 1,950-metre Emirates Airline conditions event, the feature race of the afternoon.
Silver Galaxy finished a length and a neck behind Jutland and Mawhub in the Listed Jebel Ali Stakes on January 9, having previously posted rousing back-to-back victories at the track in December.
His rivals include stable companion Tanfeeth, who is looking for a first win since January 2012, Jebel Ali debutant Inthar, Jalaa and Lord Provost.
Al Muhairi can get his afternoon off to a winning start by taking the opening Emirates Skycargo 1,600m handicap with either one of his contenders — the Silvestre de Sousa-ridden Resolute Response or Atlantic Brave, the mount of multiple Dutch champion jockey Adrie de Vries.
Formerly trained by Dermot Weld in Ireland, Resolute Response, the five-year-old son of Dansili, has had just one start in the UAE when fourth to Ostaad on the turf at Meydan on New Year’s Eve.
Atlantic Brave has posted three wins at Jebel Ali including one this season when successful in a conditions event over seven furlongs.
South African-bred Need To Know, another Jebel Ali specialist with three wins up the hill, looks to be the main threat. He represents another red-hot handler, Satish Seemar.
Another Al Muhairi hopeful is Art Wave, who takes on top sprinters like Spin Cycle, Ajraam, Al Razi, Morawij and Not A Given in the concluding race of the day.
Championship leader Watson (30 wins) has a strong chance of landing the Emirates Holiday handicap with Hacienda, already a scorer at Jebel Ali this season.
