Ajtebi embarks on historic season

Dubai: Leading UAE apprentice jockey Ahmad Ajtebi admits to not expecting anything special to happen at Thursday's season opener at Nad Al Sheba where he has full book of rides but remains upbeat about the 2008-'09 UAE racing season.

Ajtebi has ridden 62 winners in his career and needs just eight more to shake off his claim, which he hopes to do so here in the UAE.

And he can take a big step towards achieving that goal today where he has promising rides for former champion trainer Dhruba Selvaratnam, Mohammad Ramadan and Ali Rashid Al Raihe.

"It's very difficult at the start of any season," Ajtebi said on Wednesday. "You can't really tell what kind of form a horse is in as he has not raced for almost eight months. "I have some nice rides tomorrow, but I'm not expecting anything special to happen. I'll be happy to come away with a win."

Ajtebi was in high spirits having recently ridden four winners from 10 rides in Kenya and Zimbabwe while he had a glorious summer in the UK where he notched 10 win including a very special one at Royal Ascot in the Buckingham Palace Stakes.

"I think I'm a better and more confident rider than I was last season," said Ajtebi. "So I'm really looking forward to the new season.

"You can't really complain with six rides from six races. I particularly like my Ebn Reem in the sprint (Emirates Sky Cargo Trophy) and Manjnjal in the main race (Emirates Holidays). With a little luck I should have a good day."

Also looking to have a good day and launch their new partnership will be reigning UAE champion trainer Doug Watson and Dubai World Cup winning jockey Fernando Jara.

Panama-born Jara rode Invasor to victory at Nad Al Sheba last March to give own Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance his second success in the race. Commenting on his assocation with Jara Watson said on the Dubai Racing club website: "When Kiaran McLaughlin asked me if Fernando would be an asset I of course said yes.

"Shaikh Hamdan agreed so here he is.

"Naturally I was pretty excited, as Fernando has won a lot of Group races and is an extremely talented rider, so then Shaikh Hamdan gave it the ok, which is great news.

"He rode Mutasallil for me at Nad Al Sheba when he wanted to get a feel of the track before riding Invasor, and he was only just touched off by Mike De Kock's horse Bennie Blue - I remember being very impressed."

Watson and Jar combine in four races with Tri Another Cat and Leaving Alone appearing the pick of their runners.

The first named runs in the Arabian Adventures Trophy over 1500m while Leaving Alone must have a real chance in the Emirates Airline Stakes, a 2000m handicap where stable companion Lover Boy could be a big threat.

Jockey Wayne Smith and Musahab Al Muhairi can claim the honour of winning the first race of the season, a 1,400m handicap for Purebred Arabian sponsored by Emirates Hotels & Resort, with the French-bred mare Rahaf.

Selections

First race: 1. Rahaf 2. Romance De Faust

Second race: 1. Impenetrable 2. Chun Tosaigh

Third race: 1. Africanus 2. Tri Another Cat

Fourth race: 1. Change Alley 2. Power Politics

Fifth race: 1. Mannjal 2. Achill Bay

Sixth race: 1. Rochdale 2. Lover Boy

Day's Best: Africanus

Purse Dh 50,000 - Purebred Arabians 4yo+ Novice - Distance 1,400m (7F) Dirt

No. Form Horse/Origin Wgt Trainer Jockey Gate

1 9831- Chinois Al Maury (FR) ( 35 ) 58.5 B Al Ketbi L Bester 15

2 8844- Murawih (FR) ( 55 ) 58.5 E Lemartinel D O'Donohoe 1

3 0508- Pamela Du Clos (FR) ( 87 ) 56.5 S Hawaa R Ffrench 11

4 3/312- Rahaf (FR) ( 35 ) 56.5 M Al Muhairi W Smith 10

5 - Baraka Al Badi (UY) ( 0 ) 55.5 J Wickham R Mullen 3

6 2956- Dorfol De Brugere (FR) ( 55 ) 55.5 A Manuel A Nicholls 8

7 8654- Euro Gold (GB) ( 30 ) 55.5 M Kettle S Al Taleei (A) 13

8 0/- Fareq (AE) ( 0 ) 55.5 S Deeb G Birrer 5

9 08- Qadi Du Bac (FR) ( 30 ) 55.5 O D Mohammad D Badel 6

10 - Djoud'Or (FR) ( 0 ) 53.5 F Nizamuddin M Henry 12

11 0000- Karmen CS (US) ( 15 ) 53.5 F Nizamuddin L Jones 4

12 - Le Gusta Bailar (US) ( 0 ) 53.5 R Simpson J McGinn 7

13 4465- Men Bu Dhabi (FR) ( 30 ) 53.5 R Simpson W Matee 9

14 905- Mylla De Carrere (FR) ( 30 ) 53.5 S Hawaa P Devlin 14

15 4422- Romance De Faust (FR) ( 20 ) 53.5 M Ramadan A Ajtebi (A) 2

7:30pm Skywards Plate

Purse Dh 50,000 - Thoroughbred Maiden 3yo+ - Distance 1,400m (9F) Dirt

No. Form Horse/Origin Wgt Trainer Jockey

1 - Blues Ballad (GB) ( 0 ) 59 S Seemar R Mullen 5

2 4805- Chun Tosaigh (USA) ( 85 ) 59 D J Selvaratnam A Ajtebi-1.5kg 9

3 0- Dark Ice (GB) ( 0 ) 59 M Ramadan H Chaalali 3

4 075- Impenetrable (USA) ( 0 ) 59 A R Al Raihe R Ffrench 8

5 - Jap Ajeeb (UAE) ( 0 ) 59 I Ellahi D Badel 10

6 00- Miswaki Mood (USA) ( 0 ) 59 A Manuel A Nicholls 1

7 7000- Salman (AUS) ( 40 ) 59 M Ramadan F Jara 6

8 8800- Second Nature (USA) ( 40 ) 57 A M Al Tamimi C Avery 7

9 0- Western Academy (USA) ( 0 ) 57 A Manue D O'Donohoe 2

10 - City Queen (URU) ( 0 ) 52 O D Mohammad W Smith 4

8:00pm Arabian Adventures Trophy

Purse Dh 44,000 - Thoroughbred 3yo+ - Distance 1,500m (7.5F) Dirt

No. Form Gate Horse/Origin Wgt Trainer Jockey

1 2//219- Africanus (IRE) ( 73 ) 60 M Al Muhairi W Smith 11

2 6341- Donia Dubai (IRE) ( 70 ) 59 R Bouresly N Govender 6

3 93/00- Jihaaz (IRE) ( 70 ) 59 M Al Muhairi R Hills 1

4 5132- Al Rajih (AUS) ( 68 ) 58 D J Selvaratnam A Ajtebi-1.5kg 10

5 8690- Arch Of Titus (IRE) ( 67 ) 57.5 A Manuel A Nicholls 9

6 2432- Tri Another Cat (USA) ( 66 ) 57 D Watson F Jara 13

7 5406- Fight (USA) ( 65 ) 56.5 D Watson G Birrer 4

8 5543- Otranto (USA) ( 61 ) 54.5 A R Al Raihe L Jones 7

9 6146- Blue Glory (USA) ( 60 ) 54 E Charpy D Badel 14

10 6779- Dubai Dreamer (USA) ( 60 ) 54 A R Al Raihe R Ffrench 8

11 3019- Storyville (GB) ( 58 ) 53.5 M Al Muhairi M Phillips 5

12 6730- Prince Of Denmark (IRE) ( 57 ) 53 A M Al Tamimi C Avery 12

13 4465- Ballychace (SAF) ( 55 ) 52 S Seemar R Mullen 2

14 8670- Jackson (BRZ) ( 55 ) 52 D Watson D O'Donohoe 3

8:30pm Emirates Sky Cargo Trophy

Purse Dh 70,000 - Thoroughbred 3yo+ - Distance 1,100m (5.5F) Dirt

1 P804- League Champion (USA) ( 95 ) 62 R Bouresly M O'Callaghan 6

2 7629- Montpellier (IRE) ( 91 ) 60.5 A R Al Raihe R Ffrench 4

3 0840- Power Politics (USA) ( 90 ) 60 M Al Muhairi W Smith 3

4 1942/- Ebn Reem (GB) ( 86 ) 58 D J Selvaratnam A Ajtebi-1.5kg 2

5 9042- Change Alley (USA) ( 85 ) 57.5 A R Al Raihe A Nicholls 9

6 1400/- Little Neck (GER) ( 80 ) 55.5 M Ramadan J Rosales 10

7 8696- Machynleth (GB) ( 80 ) 55.5 M Al Muhairi M Phillips 5

8 4371- Masquerader (USA) ( 74 ) 52.5 M Al Muhairi R Mullen 7

9 8333- Francote (CHI) ( 70 ) 52 O D Mohammad L Jones 1

10 5589- Lord Ego (BRZ) ( 70 ) 52 D Watson F Jara 8

11 8080- Swallow Star (GB) ( 70 ) 52 R Bouresly N Govender 11

9:00pm Emirates Holidays

Purse Dh 70,000 - Thoroughbred 3yo+ rated 75-95 - Distance 1,500m (7.5F) Dirt

1 2098- Aqmaar (GB) ( 88 ) 58 E Charpy D Badel 8

2 0000- Hunters' Glen (USA) ( 88 ) 58 D Watson F Jara 7

3 2950- Quorum (GER) ( 88 ) 58 M Al Muhairi M Phillips 2

4 6460- Delude (IRE) ( 87 ) 57.5 R Bouresly M O'Callaghan 9

5 0/849/- Cherry Pickings (USA) ( 85 ) 56.5 R Bouresly N Govender 5

6 1181- Mannjal (USA) ( 85 ) 56.5 D J Selvaratnam A Ajtebi -1.5kg 4

7 2706- Muzdaher (IRE) ( 85 ) 56.5 D Watson R Hills 10

8 21///- Achill Bay (IRE) ( 83 ) 55.5 S Seemar R Mullen 3

9 0909- Layazaal (IRE) ( 83 ) 55.5 A Al Shamsi G Birrer 12

10 1785- Zoom One (GB) ( 83 ) 55.5 D J Selvaratnam A Nicholls 1

11 8110- Always Emirates (USA) ( 78 ) 53.5 M Al Muhairi W Smith 11

12 3228- Aamaaq (GB) ( 75 ) 52 A R Al Raihe R Ffrench 6

9:30pm Emirates Airline Stakes

Purse Dh 70,000 - Thoroughbred 3yo+ rated 70-95 - Distance 2,000m (10F) Dirt

1 5178- Fantastic Love (USA) ( 93 ) 61 A R Al Raihe A Ajtebi-1.5kg 1

2 6800- Pearly King (USA) ( 90 ) 60 M Al Muhairi M Phillips 3

3 7343- Morghim (IRE) ( 86 ) 58 E Charpy R Hills 8

4 6081- Rochdale (GB) ( 86 ) 58 A R Al Raihe R Ffrench 4

5 3256- Bonecrusher (GB) ( 85 ) 57.5 M Al Muhairi W Smith 5

6 3539- Leaving Alone (BRZ) ( 85 ) 57.5 D Watson F Jara 9

7 2012- Lover Boy (IRE) ( 85 ) 57.5 D Watson R Mullen 7

8 4034- Noisy Silence (IRE) ( 78 ) 54.5 A Manuel A Nicholls 2

9 1640- Lucky Ray (ARG) ( 73 ) 52 D Watson D O'Donohoe 6

TODAY'S RACE CARD

7:00pm Emirates Hotels & Resorts Trophy