Sport | Horse Racing
Thrilling win for Drift Ice
Drift Ice won a thrilling renewal of the Jebel Ali Sprint (Listed) by a neck from Calrissian.
- By Leslie Wilson Jr, Sports Editor
- Published: 00:10 March 15, 2008
- Kevin Shea powers Drift Ice up the hill to win the Listed Jebel Ali Sprint, the feature race at yesterday’s penultimate race meeting at Jebel Ali Racecourse. Drift Ice was posting his third success of the term following wins at the Dubai International Racing Carnival.
- Image Credit: Tracy Brand
Dubai: Drift Ice won a thrilling renewal of the Jebel Ali Sprint (Listed) by a neck from the fast-closing Calrissian on Friday and may have earned himself a ticket to the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (Gr 1) in two weeks time.
Should the South African horse receive an invitation for the big sprint race at the $21 million Dubai World Cup meeting on March 29 he can hope to emulate State City who in 2003 won at Jebel Ali and went on to claim greater glory in the Golden Shaheen. Drift Ice, has had two wins at the Carnival including the Group 3 Burj Nahaar on Super Thursday last week.
Ridden by South Africa star Kevin Shea the six-year-old became the first internationally-trained winner of the race which was first run in 1994.
Jebel Ali trainer Dhruba Selvaratnam, who has won the sprint four times, was narrowly denied a fifth success when Borehan finished a close third in the race. League Champion was a neck behind in fourth.
Shea, who was picking up his 13th winner of the season, remarked: "They went very quickly which has helped as his stamina was always going to be the key to his chances.
"He is a real tough horse and has been a great servant."
Strong hand
Meanwhile Musabah Al Muhairi scored a double to close within one win of Doug Watson in the race for the trainer's championship.
Al Muhairi combined with stable jockey Wayne Smith to post wins with Masquerader and Storyville to take his tally for the season to 34.
Only two race meetings remain before the season culminates in the Dubai World Cup on March 29. Watson, who went into yesterday's meeting with a reasonably strong hand, saw two of his hopes beaten narrowly.
Lover Boy finished a quarter of a length behind Rochdale in the opening Nayef while Mr Grand Lodge was beaten a nose by Storyville in the meeting's final race, the Ekraar.
Meanwhile, Ted Durcan's hopes of consolidating his lead for an unprecedented seventh UAE jockey's championship did not materialise as he was twice beaten to second place.
Durcan has 25 wins with Tadhg O'Shea in hot pursuit on 24. O'Shea's best efforts yesterday were a pair of third place finishes.
Former champion trainer Erwan Charpy continued his strong season as he saddled Skywards to win the Haafhd handicap over a mile.
Charpy currently lies fourth in the trainer's championship with 21 wins.
And Selvaratnam was not denied a victory at his headquarters when top Irish jockey Johnny Murtagh produced a great ride on Alo Pura to win the Mujahid handicap by a neck from Secret Place, the mount of Martin Dwyer.
Results
Race 1. Nayef, sponsored by Shadwell Estate (Thoroughbreds rated 80-95) 1,950m Dirt:
1. Rochdale (trained by A Al Raihe) ridden by R Ffrench; 2. Lover Boy (D Watson) K Latham; 3. Airbuss (D Selvaratnam) K McEvoy.
Distances: 0.25length, 6.5, 4. Time: 2:01.85secs.
Race 2. Haafhd, sponsored by Shadwell Estate (Thoroughbreds rated 70-90) 1,600m Dirt:
1. Skywards (E Charpy) D Badel; 2. Sahara Sphinx (M Al Muhairi) L Dettori; 3. Morghim (E Charpy) T O'Shea.
Distances: 3.75length, 3, Head. Time: 1:40.11secs.
Race 3. Jebel Ali Sprint - Shadwell Estate (Thoroughbreds, Listed) 1,000m Dirt:
1. Drift Ice (M de Kock) K Shea; 2. Calrissian (L Kelp) T durcan; 3. Borehan (D Selvaratnam) K McEvoy.
Distances: 0.25length, Nose, 0.25. Time: 1:00.72secs.
Race 4. Muhahid, sponsored by Shadwell Estate (Thoroughbreds rated 60-85) 1,000m Dirt:
1. Alo Pura (D Selvaratnam) J Murtagh; 2. Secret Place (a Selvaratnam) M Dwyer; 3. Pure Bluff (E Charpy) T O'Shea.
Distances: Head, 1length, 3.25. Time: 1:00.68secs.
Race 5. Muhtathir, sponsored by Shadwell Estate (Thoroughbreds rated 45-70) 1,000m Dirt:
1. Masquerader (M Al Muhairi) W Smith; 2. Al Rajih (D Selvaratnam) J Murtagh; 3. Kept Faith (E Charpy) T O'Shea. Distances: 1.75length, 3.5, 1.25. Time: 1:00.89secs.
Race 6. Ekraar, sponsored by Shadwell Estate (Thoroughbreds rated 40-65) 1,800m Dirt:
1. Storyville (M Al Muhairi) W Smith; 2. Mr Grand Lodge (D Watson) T Durcan; 3. Tri Another Cat (D Watson) K Latham.
Distances: Nose, 2.25length, 0.75. Time: 1:52.92secs.
Share this article
More from Horse Racing
More from Sport
Popular in Sport
-
Sport
A round with Pacquiao
In the ring with Manny Pacquiao to see what makes this boxer tick
Sport Editor's choice
-
Injury forces Casey out of Dubai event
Player to miss out on finishing at the top of the European Tour money list
-
First-class venue for cricket: Al Dhaid
Bukhatir speaks on changing trend of the game around the world
-
Nadal on song against Tsonga
Spaniard silences critics with 7-5, 7-5 win to set up encounter with Djokovic
