MARK APPEARS TO HAVE CHOSEN FRESU & JEBEL ALI AS FAVOURITE COMBO

The fixture was officially highlighted by a 1400m handicap, won in determined fashion by Chosen Mark, responding gallantly to the urgings of Antonio Fresu over the final 450m.

The pair hit the front with about 200m remaining, when at least half of the eight runners held realistic chances but the 5yo gelded son of The Last Lion, saddled by Ahmed Al Shemaili, was not going to be denied, holding off all challengers for the Italian, in the silks of Shoaib Ahmed Sarfaraz. The duo were scoring over course and distance for the second time this season having also scored on their penultimate start.

That was the only previous time Fresu rode him so they are actually unbeaten as a pairing. Fresu said: “The trainer had him in top form and he was very tough when I needed him to be. He seems to save his very best for Jebel Ali and the 1400m here really suits him.”

WILLING PARTNER

Royston Ffrench found he had a very willing partner in the shape of Razeem Dubai in the 1200m handicap, the pair probably never headed for Salem bin Ghadayer and Saeed Sultan Al Rahooni. The 4yo Frosted colt made a winning debut, under Ffrench, over 1000m here at Jebel Ali in November 2021 but was winless since in nine subsequent outings.

Hassled by eventual third, Major Cinammon, for much of the final 500m, he outfought that rival and just had enough left in the tank to hold the late lunge of Rayig, probably an unlucky loser having missed the break.

In the silks of the Bouresly Racing Syndicate, Oscar Chavez in the saddle for Rashed Bouresly, Al Khaldie made a belated winning debut in a 1200m maiden, the 6yo, a Shamardal half-brother to the classy Heavy Metal, overcame clear signs of inexperience in the first half of the before ‘the penny dropped’ and he flew home over the final 125 to win going away.

SHOWED HIS TALENT

Talentum looked most unlikely to make it third time lucky in the 1200m maiden for 3yos but devoured the ground over the final 300m, the steepest part of the incline, to snatch victory right on the line under Tadhg O’Shea, riding the Accelerate colt in the colours of John Walter Moraes for Bhupat Seemar.

A 1600m handicap went to bottom weight Coast Sky, taking full advantage of the weight he was receiving from his seven rivals, leading inside the final 200m, Pat Dobbs timing his challenge perfectly for Doug Watson and Sky Racing. Jean Van Overmeire and Waathiq, previously a maiden after seven starts, made every post a winning one in the concluding 1950m handicap for racecourse patron Sheikh Ahmed and his principal trainer, Michael Costa.

The opening 1400m maiden, the only Purebred Arabian race on the card and restricted to runners foaled in the UAE, was won in good style by Basem Al Wathba, never far off the pace on the nearside under Bernardo Pinheiro, the pair asserting in the final 125m. Saddled by Majed Al Jahoori for Al Wathba Racing, the 4yo homebred colt was having just his second career start and was taking full advantage of an opportunity added to the conditions book.

So full credit to the racecourse management for that and for actually managing to stage the meeting with the course, reportedly, unraceable the previous afternoon. Luckily the weather was fine throughout the afternoon, much to the delight and relief of all in attendance.