Dubai: Emirati handler Musabah Al Muhairi saddled three winners at Jebel Ali’s penultimate meeting of the season yesterday (Fri) including a popular success in the Listed Jebel Ali Sprint with his stable star Muarrab.
Ridden by aplomb by Paul Hanagan in the colour of race sponsor and owner Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, Muarrab comfortably saw off the challenge of 2011 winner Spin Cycle to win by two and 2 1/4 lengths.
It was the son of Oasis Dream’s seventh success at the track and Hanagan was delighted to win the race for the first time.
“He just loves it here,” said Hanagan. “He knows exactly where he is and really enjoys both the surface and the stiff uphill finish.
“He’s always been a horse that wants to please and he seems to be getting quicker as he gets older and I never had a moment’s worry today.
“We will have to sit down and talk about Dubai World Cup night now, whether to go there and, if we do, which race – the Golden Shaheen (Group 1 1200m dirt) or Al Quoz Sprint (Group 1 100m turf.
“It’s still a long way to go before a decision is taken.”
State City is the only horse to win both the Sprint and Golden Shaheen (G1) in 2003, when successful for now retired Blue Stables maestro Paddy Rudkin.
Al Muhairi, who was winning the race for the third time in four years, following back-to-back victories with Russian Rock, would go on to complete a hat-track on the afternoon.
Silvestre de Sousa did the honours aboard Conform With Fact to land a 1000m race sponsored by Roma Capannelle, on a reciprocal basis with Jebel Ali.
Al Muhairi’s final winner of the day was Kanaf who scored in the SIS handicap, the concluding event on the day.
Meanwhile trainer Doug Watson ensured that he maintained his grip on the UAE trainer’s title when he saddled Jutland to win the Al Shafar Investment Condition Stakes.
Pat Dobbs rode a big race on the winner of this season’s Listed Jebel Ali Stakes to deny a persistent Interpret.
“He has been a great horse to have in the yard and really goes well here at Jebel Ali,” said Watson. “He is so brave and does not like to be headed. Pat gets on well with him and has given him another great ride.”
Racing opened with a 1600m Commercial Bank of Dubai conditions race where aprentice Saeed Al Mazrooei made virtually made all the running aboard the winner Lanark.
“I wanted to be positive on him and he enjoyed himself bowling along in front,” said Al Mazrooei.
“He has really run on strongly up the hill and it was a good win.”
The apprentice completed a double, riding Copperbelt to win the 1200m maiden for Abdullah Bin Huzaim with the horse opening his account at the fourth attempt, on his local and dirt debut.”
