Dubai: Russian Rock will bid for a third consecutive success in the Shadwell-sponsored Jebel Ali Stakes Prep on Friday, but faces a stronger than ever challenge from Sholaan.
Musabah Al Muhairi’s star has been involved in many bruising contests at Jebel Ali Racecourse over the past four seasons, but Friday’s 1,000-metre contest could really test his limits.
However, history is on his side as he has won seven of his 12 starts at the track, including a competitive handicap over Friday’s distance.
“The Jebel Ali Sprint, via this race again, has been the main aim all season. He is just so much better at Jebel Ali — on the dirt and he loves that hill,” said jockey Wayne Smith, who has partnered Russian Rock in all of his eight UAE victories, including a win at Meydan in December 2011.
“He has been going well in the mornings and, hopefully, he is the one they have to beat.”
Sholaan, who is trained on the track by Dhruba Selvaratnam for racecourse patron Major General Shaikh Ahmad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Chief of Dubai Police and Public Security, appears to be in rousing form, having posted a convincing win over 1,200 metres at Jebel Ali a fortnight ago.
Third to Russian Rock in both last year’s Jebel Ali Sprint and the prep race, he will be hoping to reverse that form against his rival, who also beat him over this 1,000 metres at the end of November.
Al Muhairi also saddles both Odooj and Fityaan for Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, with his retained jockey Paul Hanagan choosing to ride the former, who makes his first start on dirt. Dane O’Neill partners Fityaan, runner-up to Russian Rock in this race two years ago, before occupying the same position in the Jebel Ali Sprint three weeks later.
Ribaat, trained by Ali Rashid Al Raihe, is a third runner for Shaikh Hamdan and is also making a UAE debut on dirt, having previously contested a 1200-metre handicap on Turf at Meydan.
The Satish Seemar-trained Spin Cycle, winner of the Jebel Ali Sprint in 2011, has been a consistent performer since then and will be hoping to roll back the years on Friday.
The second most valuable race on the card is the penultimate 1,400-metre handicap, in which a select field of six are set to go to post
Al Muhairi is once again well represented, providing half the runners. Smith rides Colmar Kid, twice a 1,600-metre course winner earlier in the season, but who has to give weight all round.
The jockey said: “His course form is good and the drop to 1,400 metres hopefully will not inconvenience him. It does look competitive for a six-runner race though.”
