Ramp And Rave set to prove his class

The Dubai Municipality-sponsored sprint over six furlongs is the highlight of today's first Ramadan race meeting, and it's hard to see Dhruba Selvaratnam's top sprinter Ramp And Rave getting beaten.

True, this is probably the toughest field Ramp And Rave has had to face in a season opener, but he still has enough class on his side to carry the day for jockey Pat Smullen.

Ramp And Rave is a tremendous horse by far, although he did not have the best of spells last season when winning just once in five starts. But it is still of significance to note that the one win did come rather impressively over this course and distance in March this year. In his final test last season, on Dubai World Cup day, Ramp And Rave was not by no means disgraced when a close fourth behind the fastest horse in the world, Big Jag.

Selvaratnam, however, downplayed his ward's chances in today's race.
"It's only the start of the season and all sorts of things happen during this stage," said Selvaratnam guardedly. "Ramp And Rave is in good form, but you never know he just might need the run."

Pat Smullen, the new first jockey at the Jebel Ali Stables, will be hoping to strike a winning partnership with the former champion sprinter, despite the strength of today's opposition that includes former Godolphin horse Sicnee, the ultra-consistent Moonis from the in-form stables of Satish Seemar and Paddy Rudkin's proven sprinter Mutamayyaz.

Sicnee once rated a top sprinter, but failed to live upto expectations in both starts last season when fifth behind Snow Kid in January and fourth to Ramp And Rave in March. But it's unwise to write off the Rubiano colt who has been given a new lease of life at Kiaran McLaughlin's yard. John Carroll gets the ride.
Moonis looks the real danger horse in the field, having already won this season. On the occasion the Green Desert colt upstage seasoned sprinter Kharir at Jebel Ali. His form confirmed Moonis, to be ridden by Richard Hills, can be expected to run another big race.

Mutamayyaz, though lightly raced last season, showed that he is a top notch sprinter. In his final start of the season in March the Nureyev offspring outsprinted a high quality field that included, among others, Moonis and Proud Irishman.

Also contesting today's Dh120,000 race are Bin Cylcone, Jaati, Nopal and two other Jebel Ali hopefuls, Try Prospect and Moonlight Acre.
Nine runners also accept for the meet's only turf race, a 7.5f handicap, with Selvaratnam likely to lad the spoils here as well. He saddles Derby Darbak, a over this course in January this year, who is an accomplished miler.

But unlike the previous year, when he won thrice in four starts, Derby Darbak won just the once last season. He twice disappointed when fancied over a mile, but is reportedly working well and should return to his winning ways.

The field also includes Seemar's former top miler Abreeze whose best effort last season was a second behind Bahamian Bandit at Jebel Ali, and Mile High, now stepping up in distance for Rudkin.

Peter Brette saddles last outing second Swiss Law, while Erwan Charpy runs Mutaakkid, third to Ariant at Nad Al Sheba on the first day of the season.
Today's meet also features a Limited Conditions race for Amateur riders licensed by the Emirates Racing Association.
Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum is a prominent contender astride Kiaran Mclaughlin's recent winner Martello Tower.