 |
|
| Staff Writer |
 |  |
The second-to-last event at Jebel Ali Racecourse for the 2023/24 season saw a victorious comeback for the local team, securing wins in three out of the six Thoroughbred races on Friday's seven-race card.
Ben Coen partnered with each of Michael Costa's trained winners, contributing to Costa's bid for his first-ever UAE Trainers' Championship. Costa now leads with 33 victories, six ahead of Bhupat Seemar. The pair went into the weekend separated by just four wins.
Costa's winning streak included Lahfaty's triumph in the Al Nayefat Stakes sponsored by Tattersalls, a 1400m race for 3YO fillies. Lahfaty, ridden by Coen, surged from the inside gate, shifted position, and accelerated smoothly to secure victory by a neck.
In another impressive win, Costa and Coen triumphed with Saayedd in the Bin Dasmal Group Stakes, a 1400m maiden race. The 6YO Malibu gelding clinched victory on his debut, winning by a significant margin of seven-and-a-quarter lengths.
The streak was broken by Fawzi Nass and Adrie de Vries, who secured victory with Military Artist in the Al Nawayef Stakes sponsored by Keeneland, a 1400m race for 3YO colts and geldings. Military Artist edged past Shuf Dubai to win by a short head.
Coen ended the day with a double victory, while apprentice Marcelino Rodrigues also enjoyed a successful day with two wins. Rodrigues won the Wathba Stallions Cup sponsored by HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Racing Festival aboard AF Kal Noor and followed up with a win aboard Never Just A Dream in the Emirates Airline Cup.
The day concluded with the Commercial Bank of Dubai Cup, a 1600m handicap race, where Capla Crusader emerged as a surprise winner, crossing the finish line half a length ahead of Fall Of Rome.
Preparations for the highly anticipated Dubai World Cup night are heating up at Meydan Racecourse this week, with several top contenders intensifying their training schedules. The Japanese team, led by defending champion Ushba Tesoro, hit the track first, training at 5am under floodlights to take advantage of the cooler conditions. Joined by fellow Dubai World Cup hopeful Derma Sotogake, the Saudi Cup runner-up underwent light training, completing two circuits around the Meydan track on Tuesday.
Among the participants at the trackwork session was Senor Buscador, who defeated Ushba Tesoro in the Saudi Cup. He showcased his fitness with a smooth breeze on the dirt track. Richard Fahey's Spirit Dancer also had a workout at 7am, gearing up for the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic, where he will face Japanese contenders Liberty Island, Justin Palace, and Shahryar. Another notable entry for the Sheema Classic is the dual Derby winner Auguste Rodin, who will travel from Ireland to Dubai on 24th March as part of Aidan O’Brien's formidable Ballydoyle team.
Additionally, a group of contenders trained by John and Thady Gosden, including Sheema Classic hopeful Emily Upjohn and the history-making Lord North, will depart for Dubai on the same day.
Lord North, an 8YO veteran, recently had a warm-up at Southwell for the Group One Dubai Turf. Trainer John Gosden reports that the three-time World Cup night winner is in good form as he aims for an unprecedented fourth victory. “He had a long, long summer break after last year’s race at Wood Ditton Stud where he was looked after by Geraldine who did a stunning job with him,” reported Gosden senior. “He came back from there two years younger, and he’s been a pleasure to train gently through the autumn and winter and he ran a good race the other day (Southwell) over a trip a little further than ideal, but we got a race into him which was essential. “As long as he breezes well the next couple of times, we’ll be ready to rock’n’roll with him in Dubai.”