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All Eyes on Jet Express

DUBAI - Jet Express, ridden by leading jockey Royston Ffrench, takes on a quality field of UAE-based runners in the 1600m Jebel Ali Mile, the Dh 500,000 Derrinstown feature of the Jebel Ali Racecourse on Friday.

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Unbeaten in his last three stars, the gelded son of Jet Master is looking forward to continue his winning streak for the in-form stables of Ali Rashid Al Raihe.

“He’s in his best form and will be hard to beat,” said a confident trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe pointing out that Jet Expressed was very close from setting a new track record in his last start on distance and course.

“Jet Express was less than a second behind the track record. Royston Ffrench eased the horse close home. He won very impressively before being eased in the concluding stages,” he said.

Al Raihe said the Jebel Ali Mile could mark the final appearance of the season for Jet Express at the hilly track.

“We will shift him to the new Meydan All-Weather track during the ongoing Dubai International Racing Carnival.

“We have to wait and find out how he will handle the race and thereafter his next target would be the Carnival en route to the Godolphin Mile on the Dubai World Cup night,” he said. “Everything depends on how he would come after the Jebel Ali Mile,” he added.

Meanwhile, the All-Thoroughbreds card starts with a 1600m handicap race with a good field of ten runners going to post. Ebn Malik, ridden by William Buick, make his third attempt on the UAE soil and could make it a winning one.

The five-year-old King’s Best gelding finished fourth and fifth in his two appearances over a shorter distance at the same venue and the extended two furlongs may suit him better in today’s test. But, the mount of Richard Mullen Skycruiser poses the immediate danger and could deliver for trainer Satish Seemar should the consistent son of Dubai Destination manage to reproduce his strong run behind Airbuss three weeks ago on distance and course.

Slyoni under Patrick Dobbs looks good to break the maiden in the 1600m TB Handicap second race of the afternoon.

Doug Watson saddles three horses in the fourth race with the first jockey Patrick Dobbs reuniting with Lord Ego. Silaah makes his Jebel Ali reappearance under regular rider A. Nicholls.

Silaah came with a decent form from Europe and was impressive on UAE debut when finished less than two lengths behind Montpellier over a shorter distance a fortnight ago. Today, the extra furlong may suit him better.

Local trainer Musabah Al Muhairi sends his improving gelding Celtic King, Wane Smith up, looking for a quick hat-trick after winning easily in Sharjah and completed a double on distance and course last time out.

Effort, ridden by Sandoval is in good shape to land the fifth race and Impenetrable could reverse places with earlier conqueror Belpasso in the sixth and final race of the afternoon.

hisham@khaleejtimes.com