Fatek keeps unbeaten track record

Former jockey turned trainer Peter Brette continued his excellent start to the new season by claiming the feature race at yesterday's competitive Jebel Ali race meeting with Fatek, one of the start at his Nad Al Sheba Stables.

Fatek, who won all his three starts last season at this challenging course, added one more to the bag when scooting home in the last 50 metres to win the 70-90 handicap for thoroughbreds and deprive champion jockey Ted Durcan who was shaping like a winner on the Kiaran Mclaughlin-trained Nadeem.

Brette, who took over from Dubai veteran Bill Mather two season ago, had won the feature race at Nad Al Sheba on Thursday night with the hugely impressive Swiss Law.

"It's a nice way to start the season, having your star horses win," said the trainer after lesser-known English jockey John Stack rode a cracking race on Fatek to win by a neck.

"I'm over the moon with Just to see Fatek come out and win like that it's a relief more than anything else. He just loves galloping up the hill and he's got a great constitution. I couldn't be more pleased with him.

Recounting the race Brette said: "I was a little bit worried as he was running a little bit free but he's had a long time off. He couldn't have been in a worse position, three off the pace, and actually I didn't think he'd pick up quite as well as he did. But when John picked him up he responded in a matter of strides."

Mapping out the probable future plans for the horse Brette said: "We'll have to see what the handicapper does to him but after that performance I would tend to go for the big race here, the Jebel Ali Stakes (Dec 21)."

Australian trainer John Sadler was also enjoying a favourable start to the season after seeing his second jockey Anthony Whelan snatch a bold victory on Rosaker in a 14-runner handicap for thoroughbreds rated 30-50.

Whelan, who picked up some useful late season wins earlier this year, rode a crafty race astride the Pleasant Tap colt when slipping through the gap on the rails to pip Zigere and favourite Octave in a heart-stopping finish.

All appeared lost for Rosaker who was lying fifth at the 50 metre mark before Whelan, who has a passion for running in marathons, made a clever tactical move by switching his mount to the rails and finding the right acceleration.

The performance came in for much praise from Sadler. "We can only thank one person for the win, other than all the guys who do the hard work back at the stable, and that's the jockey," he said. "I reckon he's a very good rider."

Commenting on Rosaker, who broke out of the maiden ranks with this win, Sadler said: "He was sort of slightly but slowly improving towards the end of last season. I backed him up towards the end and gave him a couple of quick runs, though it was against the horse's best interest.

"He can win again, this horse, but I won't bring him back in a hurry. He's very dare, he'll run a mile and a half comfortably. He's only beaten a horse whose rated 32 so we can't be too ambitious can we? Hopefully the handicapper won't hassle him too much, so well have to wait and see."

Earlier Jebel Ali work-rider Wayne Mason, who had five thirds last season for a variety of trainers, just failed to bring home the Dhruba Selvaratnam-trained Ali de Piboul in a 50-70 handicap for Purebred Arabians, when he was touched off by Ted Durcan on Madour.

Results:

1. Zomorrodah
Purebred Arabians (50-70) 7f:
1. Madour (J wickham) Ted Durcan; 2. Ali De Piboul (D J selvaratnam) Wayne Mason; Saat Al Sifr (J Frazier Jr) Darren Biggs; 4. Simbad (A Selvaratnam) Anthony Whelan
Distances: 3/4L, 2 1/4L, 4

2. Al Shafar Group
Thoroughbreds (3-55) 5f:
1. Wajori (P L rudkin) Wayne Smith; 2. Prompt Delivery (R Hackworth Jr) Gordon Power; 3. Madurese (R Hackworth Jr) Darren Biggs; 4. Saint Malo (K P McLaughlin) Willie Supple

3. Jebel Ali Racecourse
Thoroughbreds (70-90) 9.75f:
1. Fatek (P Brette) John Stack; 2. Nadeem (K P Mclaughlin) Ted Durcan; 3. Arabian Desert (S Seemar) Gaven Birrer; 4. Murjaan (P L Rudkin) Wayne Smith
Distances: Nk 6 1/2L, 3 1/4L

4. Bin Dasmal Group
Thoroughbreds (30-50) 9f:
1. Rosaker (J Sadler) Anthony Whelan; 2. Zigere (P L rudkin) gordon power; 3. Melaaff (S Seemar) Gaven Birrer; 4. Dayan (N Robb) Anthony Delpech
Distances: Sh 2 1/2L, 3/4.

5. Dajraan
(P L rudkin) Michael Hills; 2. Nautical (E Charpy) Seb Sanders; 3. Red Astaire (Abdulla Mohd abdulla) Chris Avery
Distances: 2 1/4L, Hd, 3L

6. Al Shafar Group
Thoroughbreds (55-80) 1m:
1. Mashab ( E Charpy)Darragh O'Donohoe; 2. Bold Windwood (R Hackworth Jr) Darren Biggs; 3. Hadith (E Charpy) willie Supple
Distances: 1 1/4L, 1 1/4L, 3.