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By Sam Turner -
Jebel Ali stage their penultimate fixture of the season on Friday with Conditions events for three-year-old fillies as well as a run colts and geldings taking centre stage. Both races, run over 1400m, arguably look at the bequest of trainer Michael Costa who looks to have one hand on the trophy for the Al Nayefat Stakes sponsored by Tattersalls with the talented filly Lahfaty, while Turjman may be difficult to resist in the male version given his track experience. Lahfaty hasn’t been seen since twice finishing in the backwash of victories for Manama Gold, but, given that her conqueror has since won the UAE Oaks with something in hand, the form doesn’t appear too shabby. Positively ridden in the Cocoa Beach Stakes, Lahfaty only gave way late on as Manama Gold swept to a decisive success, but with the winner going in again since and fourth home Mizzyaan also performing with great credit in last week’s fillies Classic, the defeat was more than respectable. Even the seventh home, Frost At Dawn, has nearly won since at a good level to give the form some real substance and Lahfaty looks to have a straightforward task. Turjman appears to face stiffer opposition in his heat with the likes of Bombay Bazaar and Military Artist in opposition. Bombay Bazaar was a useful juvenile in Britain for Richard Fahey and he looked as though the experience would do him good on his Dubai debut at Meydan over 1200m. The son of Kodiac looked short of pace behind Great Truth that night and may be ready for a step up in trip here.
A TRIO THAT’S LIKELY TO COLLECT
Turjman, Military Artist and Rasas were fourth, fifth and seventh respectively behind Mendelssohn Bay in the UAE 2000 Guineas in January and, with runner-up Killer Collect scoring last Friday, that looks the primary form line to follow. Even though Turjman was tackling 1600m for the first time, he appeared as though a stiffer test would be preferable so hopefully this more demanding track will balance out the drop in trip here. Costa sets Pick 6 players a conundrum in the Umm Suqeim Stakes sponsored by Shadwell as he saddles three live chances in the classy 0-100 1950m handicap. Alzheem, Makfoul and Wessall all represent Jebel Ali Stables and each member of the trio has accumulated some solid track form during the current campaign.
Maybe the latter could emerge triumphant with the four-year-old son of Dark Angel arriving fresher than most having been off the track since December 30th. When last seen, he took the step up to Friday’s trip in his stride, posting a handsome twoand- three-quarter length defeat of Zaman in the hands of Ben Coen who timed his run to perfection up the ‘hill’ to score readily. The handicapper gave Wessall a 7lb rise for that smooth success, but that might not be enough to stop him going close here. Stablemate Makfoul was another Costa trainee to find plenty off the bridle as he sneaked home from Ghost Of The Mambo over C&D earlier this month. He too has been hit by the handicapper, but didn’t appear to have as much in hand at the line as his counterpart. Alzheem completes the Costa triumvirate and, although he was brushed aside by Qareeb in a valuable C&D event at the end of January, the subsequent performances of his conqueror put some context on that display. Others to note include Stormy Ocean who was third to Wessall here before the turn of the New Year and has since run two fine races in defeat at Meydan for the Crisford team. Racing gets underway with a Purebred Arabian 0-85 handicap over 1800m which is sponsored by the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Racing Festival. Given the form of Jaber Bittar’s stable, Untethered, who shed his maiden tag at Al Ain earlier this month could be popular, along with the doughty veteran AF Al Baher, who landed his eighth career win (from 46 starts) at Abu Dhabi last week. Tadgh O’Shea remains loyal to his faithful partner from three Ernst Oertel entries.
