Dubai: With the 2017-2018 UAE racing season beginning on Friday (November 3) at Jebel Ali Racecourse, the stable’s new team are looking forward to the start of a new era and fresh accomplishments.
Mohammad Saeed Al Shehi has taken charge as Racing Manager at the historic racecourse, created by Major General Shaikh Ahmad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Chief of Dubai Polic and Public Security, in 1990 while Gopi Selvaratnam assumes the role of principal trainer.
The course will host 11 meetings this season with the highlights being the Jebel Ali Stakes and Sprint on February 3, 2018 and the Jebel Ali Mile on January 26. In addition, Jebel Ali will stage two legs of the His Highness Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum UAE Breeders Series for Purebred Arabians on November 2 and December 6.
Jebel Ali boasts a total prize fund of close to Dh7 million, with Dh 1.3 million alone being allocated to the Stakes and Sprint double-header.
“It is a great honour and privilege to be able to assist Shaikh Ahmad and his team in such a prestigious stable as Jebel Ali,” said Al Shehi, who is also the COO of Dubai Design District, CEO of Strategy, Technology and Execuitive Affairs, Dubai Media Incorporated, besides being a passionate horse owner.
Al Shehi said that the whole team, headed by new trainer Selvaratnam, were eagerly looking forward to a competitive new season. “A lot have changed at the racecourse, we have a new trainer, new horses, a lot of new start, we’re all geared to make a fresh start and we’re very excited about it.
“My job will be to support the trainer, Gopi, and do what’s best for the horses and run them in the best races. Hopefully, we will have something to compete in all the important races, both here at Jebel Ali, and in the other racecourse in the UAE, as well.
“We wish Shaikh Ahmad and all the other owners, trainers and jockeys the best of luck over the next five months of racing, which I’m sure will be as thrilling as it was in the past.”
Gopi Selvaratnam echoed his new manager’s sentiments and said he was as eager as anyone else in the team. “Jebel Ali Racecourse has always been horses’ friends in regards to how the racecourse was built and our horses have always done well here through the years and we hope they continue to do well this season as well,” he said.
Selvaratnam also revealed that Forjatt, the stable’s nine-year-old flagbearer, will stay in training. “He’s fit and as sharp and we’re looking forward to another successful campaign with him,” he said of the son of Ifraaj who has won 11 of his career starts, including the Group 3 Jebel Ali Mile in January 2017.
Jebel Ali Racecourse management, led by Shareef Al Halawani, also thanked Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, for his continued support and patronage.
Shaikh Hamdan’s Shadwell operation has been a principal sponsor of the feature races at Jebel Ali and will continue to do so this season, starting on Friday.
Other sponsors unveiled at the press conference include Al Redha Insurance Brokers, Al Shafar Investment, Al Tal Engineering, Commercial Bank of Dybai and ESME Sports.
