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| Staff Writer |
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Jebel Ali will host their second-to-last race of the season. The event will feature two races, one for 3YO fillies and one for colts and geldings, both of which will cover a distance of 1400m.
Trainer Michael Costa has a strong presence in both races, with Lahfaty being the favorite to win the Al Nayefat Stakes sponsored by Tattersalls for the fillies, while Turjman is expected to put up a good fight in the male version, given his previous experience on the track.
Lahfaty has been absent from the racing scene since finishing behind Manama Gold twice. However, since Manama Gold went on to win the UAE Oaks quite comfortably, Lahfaty's performance does not seem too bad. In the Cocoa Beach Stakes, Lahfaty put up a good fight, but eventually lost to Manama Gold, who has since clinched another victory. Mizzyaan, who finished fourth in the same race, also performed well in last week's fillies Classic. Even Frost At Dawn, who finished seventh, nearly won in a subsequent race at a high level, adding some substance to the form. Overall, Lahfaty seems to have a straightforward task ahead.
On the other hand, Turjman will face strong opposition from horses like Bombay Bazaar and Military Artist. Bombay Bazaar was a promising juvenile in Britain, trained by Richard Fahey. He did not show too much pace during his debut at Meydan over 1200m, where he finished behind Great Truth. However, he may be better suited for a longer distance.
In the UAE 2000 Guineas held in January, Turjman, Military Artist, and Rasas finished fourth, fifth, and seventh respectively, behind the winner Mendelssohn Bay. The runner-up, Killer Collect, scored a victory last Friday, making the UAE 2000 Guineas form line the one to follow. Even though Turjman was competing over 1600m for the first time, he appeared to handle the distance well.
However, he may prefer a stiffer test, which he might get at this more demanding track, even though the trip is shorter. Trainer Michael Costa presents a conundrum for Pick 6 players in the Umm Suqeim Stakes sponsored by Shadwell, as he fields three strong contenders in the 0-100 1950m handicap race. Alzheem, Makfoul, and Wessall, all trained by Jebel Ali Stables, have shown solid form on the track during the current season.
Perhaps Wessall, the 4YO son of Dark Angel, could emerge victorious, given that he is fresher than most, having not raced since 30th December. In his last outing, he handled the step up to Friday's distance with ease, winning by a significant two-and-three-quarter lengths against Zaman. Ben Coen rode him to perfection, timing his run perfectly up the 'hill.' Though the handicapper gave Wessall a seven-pound increase in rating for that impressive victory, it may not be enough to prevent him from finishing near the top in this race.
Wessall's stablemate, Makfoul, also found plenty off the bridle recently, narrowly beating Ghost of the Mambo over C&D. While he has also been affected by the handicapper, he may not have had as much in reserve as Wessall at the finish line. Alzheem, the third horse in the Costa triumvirate, may have been defeated by Qareeb in a valuable C&D event in January, but the performances of his conqueror afterward lend some context to his display.
Stormy Ocean, who finished third to Wessall here earlier this year, is another horse to keep an eye on, having run two excellent races in defeat at Meydan for the Crisford team. The racing will begin with a Purebred Arabian 0-85 handicap over 1800m, sponsored by the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Racing Festival.
Untethered, who won his maiden at Al Ain earlier this month, might be a popular choice, given the form of Jaber Bittar's stable. Meanwhile, the veteran horse AF Al Baher, who recently won his eighth career race (out of 46 starts) at Abu Dhabi, could also attract attention. Tadgh O'Shea will stick with his faithful partner from the three Ernst Oertel entries.