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A Day to Remember for Al Raihe

DUBAI — Local trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe continued his successful campaign of the season with a splendid triple at the Jebel Ali Racecourse on Friday afternoon.

The experienced trainer saddled Jet Express, Fathayer and Palm Court to victory under great rides from the top English jockey Royston Ffrench.

Jet Express came from behind to beat pace setter Summer Games in the last one and a half furlong and emerge the easiest of winners as the South African-bred son of Jet Master climbed up the hill.

“It’s still not over yet,” said Al Raihe. “There are more wins to come and we are working hard to rediscover ourselves before the Carnival and the arrival of the international horses,” a delighted trainer said.

Summer Games, ridden by Selim Kaya battled hard to finish three quarters of a length second as the mount of Ted Durcan Ottared was five lengths away in third.

Al Raihe earned a quick double with Fathayer who got off the mark to beat hot favourite Meeris by nearly four lengths with Mushaahed under Tadhg O’Shea taking the third place honours.

Ffrench led unfancied Palm Court to a stunning victory to complete a triple for the in-form Grand Stand Stables in the fourth race over a mile. The Doug Watson-trained duo Bur Dubai and Tri Another Cat finished disappointingly fourth and sixth respectively. Rochefort, ridden by Richard Mullen was second and behind these came Minted under Pat Smullen.

However, early in the afternoon, local trainer Bakhit Al Ketbi saddled Dahdah, Wayne Smith up, to win the opening race, a UAE_Bred Maiden sponsored by Zayed University over 1400 metre dash. Wakeed W’Rsan, ridden by Richard Mullen and Farah Ghantoot, David Smith in the saddle finished second and third respectively.

The partnership of Satish Seemar-Richard Mullen delivered the goods in the fifth race. Public Favourite and bottom weight Blues Ballad race from the centre of the track to do all the work in the closing stages and win from UAE debutant Naseehah under Carlos Sanchez.

The final race went for trainer Doug Watson who claimed a first and second with Hammadi and Alsadeek in the distinguished silks of Malih Lahej Al Basti.

Patrick Dobbs did a great job to put the winner under pressure right from the word go and held on courageously at the busy end. Stable companion Alsadeek, Tadhg O’Shea up, and seasonal debutant Alo Pura, ridden by Daragh O’Donohoe chased Hammadi all the way without much success. The brilliant sprinter responded keenly when it mattered in the concluding stages of the 1000m trip to put his head first and deny Alsadeek his third straight win of the season over distance and course.