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| Sumita Pawar |
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On Saturday, the resident trainer Michael Costa and jockey James Orman, both from Australia, won five out of the seven races on the opening meeting's program at Jebel Ali Racecourse. During the sunny afternoon, the bright yellow silks of Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the patron and founder of the racecourse, fluttered in triumph.
The first race of the day was the Purebred Arabian contest, the Wathba Stallions Cup 1400m maiden, which was won by AF Mathakeel ridden by Adrie de Vries. This gave defending UAE Champion Owner Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda and his retained trainer Ernst Oertel their first wins of the season. Jebel Ali's operation made headlines winning five of the six thoroughbred contests.
Costa and Orman won all the races except the Commercial Bank of Dubai Cup 1200m hcp, which was won by Doug Watson's Rayig (Pat Dobbs), beating Salem bin Ghadayer’s Desert Safari on the line. This brought up a first success for new owner Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, who also recorded his first runner.
Sheikh Ahmed’s best start to a season was with debutante Mozahim, who won the 1000m Maiden Stakes sponsored by Al Shafar Investment LLC by four lengths ahead of Musabbeh Al Mheiri's Al Arbed, with the ride of apprentice Qais Al Busaidi.
Orman doubled the hosts’ tally with Marsoom in the 2YO Novice Stakes (Emirates Sprint Series) over 1000m, with Turjman (Dobbs up) finishing two lengths adrift of his teammate. Bhupat Seemar’s Prima Summer, with Tadhg O’Shea up, was a further five and a quarter lengths behind the runaway pair.
Eljenob brought Costa and Orman back into the winners’ enclosure at the end of the Dubai Refreshment (PJSC) Cup 1400m maiden on his fifth career start, after Watson's Rayig ended their winning streak.
Orman's skill in the saddle was evident in the feature event of the afternoon, the 1600m Season Opening Cup sponsored by Shadwell. He produced Alhzeem widest of all after straightening for home and hit the front 200m out before finding more to run out a five and a half length winner from Delorean, trained by Ahmad bin Harmash and ridden by Gabriele Malune. Hyde Park, ridden by Xavier Ziani for Salem bin Ghadayer, was a further four lengths behind in third.
The 4YO Dark Angel gelding, Wessall, won the concluding Orient Irrigation Services Cup 1800m maiden, ridden by UAE debutant. This brought the hosts' tally to six wins out of seven races.