Abu Dhabi: Jim Crowley, the British champion jockey, made an immediate impact on his first season in the Emirates for his new employer Shaikh Hamadan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance.
He rode the Purebred Arabian AF Mathmoon to victory on his first ride since becoming Shaikh Hamdan’s retained jockey.
Crowley has notched up 17 winners in his first season in the Emirates. He can add to that number as he rides six horses — AF Mathmoon, Ertijaal, Muarrab, Mutakayyef, Etijaah and Zamaam — for his main patron.
His best chances will be on the Purebred Arabian — AF Mathmoon in the Dubai Kahayla Classic, the lone Purebred Arabian race of the Dubai World Cup meeting, and Ertijaal, who is a strong favourite in the $1 million (Dh3.67 million) Al Quoz Sprint run over 1200 metres on turf.
His other best bet will be Muarrab, who lines-up in the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen over the 1,200-metre trip on the dirt.
Watch live the post position draw for the Golden Shaheen, which is sponsored by Gulf News, with a prize money of USD 2 million.
“My first season with Shaikh Hamdan has been good as we started with a win. I was the leading jockey at the Carnival in my first time here. So, obviously, I’m still learning the tracks out here,” said Crowley, adding that his initial focus was all about adapting to the new set-up quickly, which he has done with ease.
“Adapting, I have done that well I believe with my performance so far. I’m already looking forward to next year.”
AF Mathmoon has run four times this season and won in his last three starts impressively with Crowley on-board in his last two starts.
“He has done nothing wrong this year and been very impressive and has got a very, very good chance. He also won the last two races and I’m pretty much confident of him doing well,” said Crowley.
Ertijaal has won both his starts over 1,000 metres and the last time eclipsing the 2014 track record of 55.90 seconds set by Amber Sky by half a second.
The six-year-old gelded son of Oassis Dream will have to step up to the 1,200 metres on the World Cup night. Crowley thinks he can handle the trip as he has won over this distance and also over 1400 metres.
“Ertijaal is doing well at home and I’m really looking forward to riding him at the World Cup,” he said.
“Step-up six furlongs, I don’t think it will be a problem. He has a track record for six and also he has won seven furlongs. I’m very much looking forward to him.”
Muarrab is going for his title defence in the Gulf News-sponsored Golden Shaheen sprint run over 1,200 metres on dirt. His form has taken a dip this season though after finishing runner-up thrice and could finish a distant sixth behind Morawij in his last start in the Group 3 Mahab Al Shimaal on Super Saturday.
“Muarrab has been unlucky in a couple of runs and we will get back to our normal tactics this time and, hopefully, he will be quite forceful. If he gets a kind draw, you will see him win the big race again,” said Crowley.
Mutakayyef is entered in the $6 million Dubai Turf while Etijaah and Zamaam are running in the Godolphin Mile and Dubai Gold Cup respectively, both with prize purse of $1 million each.
