Top Hamdan runners start as favourites in Jebel Ali feature

Dubai: Racing returns to Jebel Ali today with the feature race being a very open 1400m conditions event that is sponsored by Derrinstown Stud.

Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, who owns the Ireland-based breeding facility, is well represented, with two of his runners holding leading chances.

Richard Hills, Shaikh Hamdan's retained rider, has opted for Mujaazef, who is prepared by UAE champion trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe, while Tadhg O'Shea gets the leg up on the Erwan Charpy-trained Munaddam.

The former returns to Jebel Ali, a course where he scored three times early in the season before two unsuccessful starts in the Dubai World Cup Carnival on the Tapeta.

Hills is hopeful that Mujaazef will profit from the return to Jebel Ali. "He loves the track and surface at Jebel Ali and this looks a good opportunity for him," said the jockey. "He ran very well for a long way at Meydan last week in a Group 3 so is dropping in class and should go well.

"There are a few dangers in there but I am hoping for a good run."

Munaddam makes his long-awaited return after a lengthy layoff and is also running for the first time at Jebel Ali.

Resident trainer Dhruba Selvaratnam's horses have been running well this season and stable star Otaared also looks to have a big chance, given that he is returning to his favoured trip of 1,400 metres, a distance over which he has posted five wins in the past.

Ideal conditions

Stable jockey William Buick takes the ride and said: "Conditions are ideal and he seems in good form but he will need to be near his best in a decent little contest."

Al Raihe's Five Cents and Happy Dubai are also worth considering together, with the Satish Seemar-trained Escape Route, a course and distance winner last March.

Richard Mullen, the retained rider at Seemar's Zabeel Stables, said: "He ran very well on his return at Abu Dhabi and has run twice at Meydan's Carnival since. This is probably a little bit easier and hopefully he can be very competitive."

Selvaratnam stalwart Emmrooz may have to concede weight to his nine rivals in an 1,800-metre handicap but should still bring him the spoils under Buick. A winner of last year's Jebel Ali Stakes, Emmrooz was runner-up to Treble Jig in this year's renewal of the Listed contest and should be the one to beat, although Al Raihe's Sharaayeen is a real danger. Stable companion Zain Shamardal should also go close.

Selvaratnam also sends out two other strong contenders today, Tesslam in the 1,900-metre handicap and Dahteer in the 1,400-metre handicap.