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| Sumita Pawar |
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Jebel Ali's resident trainer, Michael Costa, aims to solidify his lead on the UAE Trainers' Championship leaderboard when racing returns to his home turf this Saturday. One of his top contenders is Mersaal, a 5YO Ghostzapper gelding that is perfect for a thrilling finish up the hill. Mersaal will run in the feature race of the afternoon, the Union Day Stakes, a handicap for runners rated 0-100 contested over a mile. With his recent three-length victory on his last start, Mersaal will be a tough competitor to beat with Ben Coen, Costa's first choice rider, taking over from Qaid Al Busaidi, who guided him on his last win in the Mohaather Stakes sponsored by Shadwell.
Mersaal has a record of three wins in six races at the course, including a comfortable win over the 2020 UAE Oaks heroine Down On Da Bayou. With his impressive performance on his last start, Mersaal is expected to be Costa's sharpest contender for the afternoon, under the command of Coen. However, there are no guarantees, and Costa will not be taking the field lightly, with Ismail Mohammed's horse-for-the-course, Justice Protocol, perhaps the one with the on-paper bragging rights as he boasts an even better record at the venue, with three course and distance wins and one over an 1800m trip.
Ahmad bin Harmash's Delorean is another contender, who progressed after finishing runner-up on his first start during the opening meeting of the season and winning a course and distance handicap on the second meeting's program. Webinar, representing the firing yard of Bhupat Seemar, and Chosen Mark and Ibra Attack, representing Ahmed Al Shemaili, complete the list of contenders.
With the rising star of Salem bin Ghadayer, jockey Royston Ffrench will be hoping to add to his tally of three for the season aboard divisional heavyweight Tenbury Wells, a two-time track and trip winner. The seven-race card will begin with the 1971 Cup by Audi, a 1400m maiden for Purebred Arabians, followed by six Thoroughbred contests, including the Union Day Stakes. The programme will be completed by three handicaps, Ghaf Tree Stakes sponsored by Al Huzaifa 52nd Stakes sponsored by Bin Dasmal, and Seven Emirates Sprint Stakes, and two maiden events, 2nd of December Stakes sponsored by Al Shafar and Year of Sustainability Stakes sponsored by CBD.