Musabah targets Jebel Ali success

Top weight Atlantic Brave returns to lead owner and trainer Musabah Al Muhairi’s charge in the 1400m Shadwell-sponsored Conditions race, the feature of the second race-meeting at Jebel Ali Racecourse on Friday afternoon.

By Hisham Al Gizouli

  • Follow us on
  • google-news
  • whatsapp
  • telegram

Published: Fri 18 Nov 2011, 12:32 AM

Last updated: Tue 7 Apr 2015, 8:43 AM

“Atlantic Brave has been doing very well last season but he disappointed when we shifted him to the A/W track at Meydan,” Al Muhairi said.

The five-year-old son of Piccolo from Princess Anabaa did not impress in his last two starts when well beaten by Quartier Latin before finishing poor third to Otaared over distance and course when last seen in March.

Wayne Smith said: “This horse really improved last season and is definitely one of our main hopes this season. He loves it at Jebel Ali and goes well fresh so that bodes well for a good run. Giving weight away is never ideal but he runs well fresh and really pleased us with his last bit of work on Tuesday.”

Satish Seemar saddles Ibn Al Nafis, ridden by Richard Mullen in the distinguished silks of Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Maktoum to make the most welcomed return to the track after a long layoff.

Having won his only three starts over different distances at the same course in 2010, the Distorted Humor’s horse is believed to need the run according to the connections.

Stable jockey Richard Mullen has always liked him and said: “It is great to get him back on the track and he has been working well enough but is entitled to need the run having been off so long.”

Laa Rayb makes his Jebel Ali debut under James Doyle for trainer Dhruba Selvaratnam in the colours of the racecourse patron Shaikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The seven-year-old gelded son of Storm Cat is still to find his strides and has been in and out in all four starts at the Meydan A/W and turf surfaces.

And while it’s widely believed that the mount of Tadhg O’Shea, Mujaazef will go for a quick double after landing his first win of the season over a shorter distance at the same venue a couple of weeks ago, it’s equally argued that he may not be able to repeat the same performance with this company.

And should this logic prove to be true, Step In Line under Carlos Sanches could be the solution should the Giant’s Causeway gelding manage to reproduce his strong run behind the track’s specialist Otaared last time out.

The weights are headed by Al Raihe’s Monte Alto, the mount of O’Shea and one of three in the line-up who contested the Meydan race won last week by stable companion Rochdale.

Monte Alto was fourth and it is hard to see why either Mojave Moon or Highland Glen should reverse form with him, though he is conceding weight to his five rivals.

Selvaratnam’s Swinging Sixties looks a far more serious rival on his seasonal bow and it would be no surprise to see he, Monte Alto and Al Raihe’s second runner, Glen Nevis, dominate proceedings.

KT Selections: 1 – Desert Streak/ Kilt Rock 2 – Game Stalker/ Kessra 3 – Step In Line/ Golden Shaheen 4 – Spice Souk/ Secretive 5 – Glen Nevis/ Monte Alto 6 – Hunters’ Glen/ Sarbola.

Day’s best: Step In Line


More news from