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| Staff Writer |
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Trainer Michael Costa is surprisingly unrepresented in the upcoming Jebel Ali Sprint and Mile Preps, which will take place this Saturday on the 'Hill'. This presents an opportunity for other trainers to make headway on the Australian's lead at the top of the trainer's table. Musabbeh Al Mheiri, who has achieved an impressive 13 wins this season and recently purchased 500 UAE winners, could see Rawy make a bold move and potentially add another win to the board in the Sprint Prep.
Rawy has yet to fully shine in his two starts this term, but a return to Jebel Ali and a drop in class could be the catalyst for a stronger showing. He has a strong track record, having previously been the runner-up to Sadaaty in a course and distance maiden, and the 1000m distance could play to his strengths.
Doug Watson is another local trainer who has been in good form recently, and with the 103-rated Khuzaam and Al Tariq, he forms a powerful two-pronged attack on the sprinting feature. Khuzaam, trained by Roger Varian in the UK, dominated over the mile at Abu Dhabi in his last race, but a marked drop back in distance could yield better results. Al Tariq, on the other hand, has a strong chance of winning as his course form figures read 2117 and he displayed great speed in his last race.
The Mile Prep also boasts an exciting field, with the unexposed Swing Vote likely to attract plenty of Pick 7 players. Swing Vote won a race at Jebel Ali before New Year, beating Tenbury Wells, and should enjoy a genuine pace in this upcoming race. The handicapper raised his rating to 102 after his last win, but it's worth noting that he finished within five lengths of Arc winner Ace Impact in a Chantilly Listed event in May. Street Mood, who won a Sharjah Conditions event last time, is also expected to perform well, along with track specialists Delorean and Justice Protocol.
In the 1600m maiden race, El Introvertido could be one of the strongest picks on the card. The son of Treasure Beach looked promising in the maiden won by Keffaf in December, but appeared to struggle with stamina towards the end. However, a repeat of that performance could be enough to secure his first win under Adrie de Vries.
Other races on the card include a 0-80 handicap, a 0-85 handicap for older horses, a 3YO novice event, and a well-subscribed maiden for Purebred Arabians.