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| Staff Writer |
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Jebel Ali Racecourse will bring the curtains down on 2023, with an exciting seven-race card on Saturday, with their main event, dubbed the 2024 Cup. It will feature nine horses competing for the lion's share of the AED96,000 prize money reserved for the said handicap (0-100).
Ahmad bin Harmash-trained Delorean is the one to watch in this race, having won two out of three course and distance starts at Jebel Ali. His trainer is pleased with the horse's progress and is looking forward to working towards his main target this season, the Gr.3 Jebel Ali Mile. Though there are several strong contenders in the race, including the Salem bin Ghadayer pair of Down On Da Bayou and Tenbury Wells, Delorean's recent form and fresh legs make him a strong favourite for the win.
Tenbury Wells and Justice Protecol, trained by Ismail Mohammed, were both beaten by Delorean in his last start. Justice Protecol is expected to improve on his third-place finish and put in a performance worthy of his status as a 'horse for the course,' having won four of his five starts on the surface last campaign. Another interesting candidate is Swing Vote, a 3YO gelded son of Shamardal, who will be making his UAE debut in this race. Jointly trained by Simon Crisfor and his son Ed, the team is eyeing another Gr.3 Jebel Ali Mile success after winning the race with Algiers in 2022.
The card begins with the Wathba Stallions Cup handicap (0-100, 4yo+) for Purebred Arabians, followed by the 1600m Bin Dasmal Group Cup, a non-winner event for juveniles. Bhupat Seemar's Prima Summer will be looking for winning luck on his third attempt in this race. The ESS Sprint Stakes (handicap 0-90) over 1200m will attract several tough prospects from the sprint division, while the 1950m Glorious Saturday Stakes (handicap 0-95) will close out the day's events.
Overall, the 2024 Cup promises to be an exciting end to the 2023 racing season at Jebel Ali Racecourse. With a talented field of horses and several strong contenders, it's sure to be a thrilling day of racing for fans and spectators alike.