Dubai: Jebel Ali Racecourse is set for a grand finale today as they ring out their 20th anniversary celebrations.
A card of six races supported by some thrilling competitions for racegoers looks certain to ensure that the season ends with a big bang.
The feature race of the afternoon is a 1400m handicap sponsored by Shadwell, the UK arm of the breeding operation of His Highness Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance.
Twelve go to post with the Grandstand stables of two-time champion trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe responsible for three. Al Raihe, will not be present at Jebel Ali today as he has just been released from hospital where he was being treated for a mild illness. However, he has been giving his assistant trainer Jillani Seddiqi, a steady supply of instructions.
"The boss calls me all the time to plan our training or to suggest something," said Seddiqi.
"We understand that he needs to get some more rest, before he can hopefully make a full recovery, in time for next week's Dubai World Cup meeting.
"If we can win some races on Friday, I'm sure it will help cheer him up. This has been a great season for the boss, and we want to end it on a high for him."
Main runners
Of Al Raihe's three runners in the feature race, stable jockey Royston Ffrench will partner the top-weight Five Cents, a course and distance winner four starts ago. He is joined by Noor Zabeel and Factory Time, who will both be having their first starts on dirt and will be ridden by UAE apprentice jockey Saeed Al Mazroui and Brazilian Silvestre De Sousa respectively.
Youm Mutamiez had Five Cents behind him when he won a course and distance handicap four weeks ago.
He is trained by Musabah Al Muhairi, Al Raihe's brother-in-law.
Stable jockey Wayne Smith who rides Youm Mutamiez said: "He has won both his 1400m starts at Jebel Ali, but struggled over 1200m in between. Conditions are ideal but this is a tougher race. That said, I am expecting a big run."
Others in the race are Steed, to be ridden by Tadhg O'Shea for Doug Watson, and the Satish Seemar-trained Escape Route who chased home Five Cents on his penultimate start before winning a course and distance conditions race at Jebel Ali a fortnight ago.
Final ride
The meeting concludes with a 1200m conditions race where Fityaan, trained by Al Muhairi will mark the final Jebel Ali ride for jockey Richard Hills who retires after next week's Dubai World Cup meeting.
Hills, who was twice second on Fityaan on both his Jebel Ali starts, said: "It was nice to get a farewell winner at Abu Dhabi on Sunday, and it would be lovely to leave Jebel Ali with at least another winner. Fityaan deserves a bit of luck and should at least go close in a hot little contest."
Mujaazef, the mount of Tadgh O'Shea and Wayne Smith's Kanaf look to be the best of the rest.
Dhruba Selvaratnam's Alo Pura looks a big danger for the home team.
