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| Staff Writer |
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Racing enthusiasts in the UAE, particularly those who keep up with Jebel Ali Stables, were likely transported back in time as they witnessed the unfolding events of last weekend's Breeders' Cup extravaganza.
Last Saturday, James Orman for trainer Michael Costa replicated the spectacular performances of Santa Anita's riding talents who carried the yellow and black colors of Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The family-oriented racecourse highlighted these apprentices who shone brightly. On Friday, Tom Marquand won the Juvenile Turf Sprint with Big Evs.
The following day, William Buick won the Turf Mile with a stunning burst from Master Of The Seas, defeating fellow Godolphin-owned Mawj. Both Marquand and Buick were young riders who started their careers when they received invitations from Jebel Ali Stables. Marquand, who was the champion apprentice in Britain in 2015, won a few races from his 27 rides during his brief stint in the UAE at the start of the 2017-18 season. Buick, who shared the claimers’ title with David Probert in 2008, enjoyed much more productive spells at Jebel Ali from 2008-10, with 22 and 19 winners respectively in his first two seasons before injuries ended his third term.
Trainer Dhruba Selvaratnam began a policy of drawing heavily on Britain and Ireland for his stable jockeys almost as soon as he received the call from Sheikh Ahmed in November 1990 to relocate from Ireland.
Four jockeys, Willie Supple, Johnny Murtagh, Gary Hind, and Brett Doyle, won UAE championships while in the post. Pat Smullen, who had three separate spells as stable jockey to Selvaratnam, finished third in the table behind Ted Durcan in the last of them in 2001-02. Smullen went on to become stable jockey to Dermot Weld and has a race named after him at Jebel Ali following his death in 2020. In his autobiography Champion, Smullen expressed his feelings for the Gulf, saying that "Dubai has always been good to me It was always a home away from home, and Dhruba and Erwan Charpy were brilliant trainers to ride for.”
Dhruba Selvaratnam was Sheikh Ahmed's trainer in residence, with the exception of a two-year period in Ireland, until the end of the 2016-17 season. He was then replaced by his brother and former assistant Gopi, and after one season and three winners, Nicholas Bachalard was brought in from Saudi Arabia. Although Bachalard had a shaky start, he managed to get the Jebel Ali Stables back on track.
However, after only achieving four wins from 63 runners in the 2021-22 season, he left and was replaced by Michael Costa. Costa began his career as a stablehand and eventually rose to become the trainer of 120 horses on Australia's Gold Coast. In his first season at Jebel Ali, Costa had 14 winners and 41 other prize earners from 93 runners. This allowed Jean van Overmeire, the latest Jebel Ali stable jockey, to set a tally of 15 wins and 67 other second-to-fifth places from 194 rides. Although Overmeire had delayed his return, dual Brisbane champion jockey Orman stepped in and achieved a weekend five-timer. The glory days of Jebel Ali Stables and its No. 1 jockey have returned.