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JJ The Jet Plane lands superbly

JJ The Jet Plane touched down safely in the hands and heels of Rafael Bejarano to lead inside the last 50 metres of the Al Quoz Sprint Group-2, the first of the seven Thoroughbreds races on the card.

The full field of 16 runners kicked off to a flyer start and Olivier Peslier pushed War Artist to the early looking for a quick double. The horses disappeared in the mist at midway and the anxious fans had to wait for few minutes before the picture reappeared.

The clear-cut public favoured JJ The Jet Plane broke nicely but he settled behind the horses as Piccadilly filly made a strong run from the centre of the field to join War Artist who looked like a winner in the last 200 metres.

At this point, the view was clear and the Jet Plane was put on top gear to find his way through between the leading pair and prevail by just a head as the trio crossed the line.

War Artist took second and behind him finished the Piccadilly Girl under Eddie Creighton. Though the distance of 1000 metre is less than his best, the well South African-bred gelding had to accept the trip following his unsuccessful attempt to handle the tapeta and race in the Golden Shaheen which is a Grou-1 race contested over 1200 metre.

Trained by Michael Houdalakis and ridden by Bernard Fayd’Herbe, J J The Jet Plane ran the 1000m in 59.14 but perhaps the best sight was his Zimbabwean groom Everisto Nyambo’s euphoric reaction to the victory in the parade ring, not unlike that of Carl O’Callaghan’s Irish jig one year ago after Kinsale King’s victory in the Dubai Golden Shaheen.

Result: Race Two 5.15pm Thoroughbreds Al Quoz Sprint (Group-2) 1000m (a 5f) sponsored by Emirates NBD. Purse: $1 million: 1. J J The Jet Plane (Michael Houdalkis) Bernard Fayd’Herbe 2. War Artist (Rodolphe Collet) Olivier Peslier 3. Piccadilly Filly (Edward Creighton) Eddie Creighton

Time: 59.14. Distances: HD/ HD.