Dubai: The Musabah Al Muhairi-trained Rafeej led an exciting group of winners at Meydan’s big race night on Thursday, who announced themselves as potential stars of the forthcoming Dubai World Cup Carnival.
The five-year-old son of Darley stallion Iffraaj is set to take his place in the Emirati handler’s team for the 11-week extravaganza which begins on January 8, 2015, after running out an impressive winner of the 1200m Listed Garhoud Sprint, a race he had also won in 2013.
Stable jockey Silvestre de Sousa expressed keenness and optimism that Rafeej will be a big player in the Carnival after he comfortably outran noted sprinters like Conveyance, Sholaan and Nawwaar.
“He was always travelling well and when I asked him to quicken up he did well. I just had to keep his mind on the business, but I was very pleased with him overall,” said the Dubai World Cup-winning rider, who also acknowledged receiving valuable advice from Dane O’Neil and Wayne Smith who had previously ridden Rafeej.
“They gave me some tips on how he likes to be ridden and that certainly helped.
“I think he will be one of the big contenders in the Carnival, so fingers crossed he can go places from here.”
Another horse heading to the Carnival was the Satish Seemar-trained Surfer, who contested most of the big races last season including the Dubai World Cup (G1) and two rounds of the Al Maktoum Challenge.
However, the one-time Godolphin trained five-year-old needed to produce a big effort to see off the front-running Ennobled Friend.
Winning jockey Richard Mullen was quick to praise his horse’s temperament and said: “I could not have asked for any more, when he really had to dig deep he did.
“That’s the first time he really had to battle because his wins in the past were a lot easier. I’m pretty sure the Carnival will be well up to the task for him.”
“He is a good horse and one we always had high hopes for.”
In-former handler Doug Watson has rarely left a race meeting this season empty-handed, and he was once again taking home a couple of trophies following wins by Cooptado in the 2000m Listed Entisar and Faulkner in the 1200m Lincoln MKT Trophy.
Argentine-bred Cooptado, winner of the Group 1 Gran Premio Nacional (Argentine Derby) last season, made all the running under experienced Dutch rider Adrie De Vries to see of Farrier, the mount of Richard Mullen.
“We knew we had two good chances coming into the race,” said a delighted Watson. “Adrie has given Cooptado a great ride from the front and the horse will improve from that.”
Earlier, jockey Royston Ffrench gifted former champion trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe with a first pattern race victory of the season when guiding AF Lafeh to win the 1600m Group 2 Mazrat Al Ruwayah.
AF Lafeh crossed the finish line two and a quarter lengths clear of course and distance winner Bigg N Rich, while Pick Six favourite Areem could only finish third.
“This horse really deserved a win as he has run some very good races in defeat,” said Ffrench. “He is so genuine and a great horse to have in the yard.”
