Dubai: Adi Selvaratnam has his eye on the Dh350,000 Jebel Ali Sprint following Comandante Xara's eyecatching performance in the prep on Friday.
The popular Midhish Stables handler has a tremendous record with sprinters and may well have found the winning formula in the ex-Brazilian horse who was posting his first win in the UAE from 11 starts.
"He has always shown speed and we thought he was well. Keagan (Latham) has given him a great ride and is a promising jockey," said Selvaratnam.
With the visors off the five-year-old looked transformed and displayed a mean turn of foot when recording a thumping three and a half length victory over favourite Marbush, who is trained by Selvaratnam's brother Dhruba.
South African rider Latham, who was picking up his eighth success of the season said of the winner: "He quickened nicely when I asked him and is a nice horse."
National trainer Musabah Al Mohairi helped himself to a three-time at the Jebel Ali Racecourse yesterday, with Always Emirates, Changing Wind and Liwa.
While the first named recorded a three quarter length victory over favourite Alo Pura in the Commercial Bank of Dubai handicap, Changing Wind and Liwa were more consummate winners. Stable jockey Wayne Smith was aboard all three runners.
Former champion trainer Erwan Charpy performed the rare feat of saddling the first three home in the Arabian Scandinavian Insurance Co maiden.
Kept Faith, ridden by French jockey David Badel, beat Royal Degree by a length and a quarter while Beetuna was two and a half lengths further back in third.
Doug Watson, who is currently leading the trainer's championship with 28 wins, won the opening Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum UAE Breeders Society Plate for Purebred Arabians bred locally with Al Nab'A.
Results
Race 1. Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum UAE Breeders Society Plate (Purebred Arabians, Conditions) 1,600m Dirt:
1. Al Nab'A (d Watson) M Dwyer; 2. Ahmadani Musafer (M al Muhairi) W Smith; 3. As Sahaab (G Duffield) T Durcan; 4. Af Amer Tahaddi (d Watson) D O"Donohoe. Distances: 4.25length, 1, 1.25. Time: 1minute 52.80secs.
Race 2. Commercial Bank of Dubai Handicap (50-85) 1,200m Dirt:
1. Always Emirates (M Al Muhairi) W Smith; 2. Alo Pura (D Selvaratnam) J Murtagh; 3. Masquerader (M A Muhairi) T Durcan; 4. Seeking Al Alibi (E Charpy) D Badel. Distances: 0.75length, 2.75, 2. Time: 1:13.14secs.
Race 3. Arabian Scandinavian Insurance Co (Maiden) 1,200m Dirt:
1. Kept Faith (E Charpy) D Badel; 2. Royal Degree (E Charpy) T O'Shea; 3. Beetuna (E Charpy) R Moore; 4. Moon Belaadi (A Selvaratnam) L Jones. Distances: 1.25length, 2.5, 0.5. Time: 1:14.02secs.
Race 4. Jebel Ali Sprint, sponsored by Shadwell Farm (Conditions) 1,000m Dirt:
1. Comandante Xara (A Selvaratnam) K Latham; 2. Marbush (D Selvaratnam) J Murtagh; 3. Conceal (R Bouresly) T Shea; 4. Valiance (M de Kock) P Devlin. Distances: 3.5length, 1.5, 1.25. Time: 1:00.06secs.
Race 5. Arenco Real Estate Handicap (40-65) 1,950m Dirt:
1. Lucky Ray (D Watson) W Lordan; 2. Tri Another Cat (D Watson) K Latham; 3. For Once (d Selvaratnam) J Murtagh; 4. Ballychance (D Watson) W Supple. Distances: 8length, 0.5, 1.5. Time: 2:00.62secs.
Race 6. Romeo Design Handicap (70-95) 1,600m Dirt:
1. Changing Wind (M Al Muhairi) W Smith; Aamaaq (A Al Raihe) R Ffrench; 3. Morghim (E Charpy) R Hills; 4. Dubai Twilight (E Charpy) T O'Shea. Distances: 1.75length, 4.25, 4.75. Time: 1:39:34
Race 7. Emirates NBD (Conditions):
1. Liwa (M Al Muhairi) W Smith; Arminius (E Charpy) T O'Shea; Lavarone (H Brown) R Moore; 4. Donia Dubai (R Bouresly) B Doyle. Distances: 2.75length, 1.5, 2. Time: 1:27:23.
