Dubai: As a whole, runners from the Jebel Stables have progressed throughout the campaign, and long-time boss Dhruba Selvaratnam is hoping to end the season with some good results at Friday’s farewell meeting.
Selvaratnam saddles three runners, headed by consistent sprinter Sholaan, dual winner Gobooll and the evergreen Canwinn.
Sholaan, who the veteran handlers singles out as his best chance of the afternoon, faces eight rivals in the Derrinstown Stud Conditions Stakes, one of the day’s three highlights.
“We expect him to run a big race,” said Selvaratnam. “There are some nice horses in it, but we have go to be hopeful considering his run at Meydan last month where he was only narrowly beaten by Dark Emerald who has since finished a good second in a Group 2 race.
“Sholaan is a very genuine horse who has done well over the years. It would be nice to see him win at the final meeting.”
Standing in his way is Rafeej, who makes his debut at Jebel Ali having run most of his races at Meydan, stable companion and another Meydan regular Fityaan and Satish Seemar’s ageless sprint star Spin Cycle.
Gobooll, another high performer for Selvaratnam this season, faces seven rivals in the Shadwell Farm Conditions Stakes, one of four races on the card sponsored by the breeding empire of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance.
Shaikh Hamdan’s stable jockey Paul Hanagan rides the owner’s course specialist, Kanaf, while Dane O’Neill partners stable companion Mashaaref, two strong contenders in the 1,400m contest.
Trained by Musabah Al Muhairi, Kanaf is seeking a seventh Jebel Ali victory and sixth over this 1400m course and distance.
The official feature is the 1800m Shadwell Conditions Stakes were nine run including 2014 Jebel Ali Stakes winner Interpret.
Silvestre De Sousa again rides for his main employer, Musabah Al Muhairi.
“He certainly seems to save his best for Jebel Ali,” said the jockey. “He can be hard work to get motivated but the steep uphill finish suits him. Hopefully he can go close.”
The field also feature Romansh, who was last seen contesting the Group 3 Burj Nahaar on Super Saturday at Meydan.
“It is a nice spare ride,” said Wayne Smith. “He has done all his winning on dirt and seems to relish 1800m so, hopefully, he should be competitive in a decent little race.”
shamaal Nibras, who was third in the Group 3 Jebel Ali Mile four weeks ago, represents leading handler Doug Watson.
“We have given him four weeks between races again as it really seems to suit him,” explained Watson. “We think he will stay 1950m next season so this trip should be ideal and he is in good form at home.”
