A pair of handicaps, worth Dh84,000 apiece, share the Jebel Ali spotlight, one over 1400m, the other at the stamina-sapping 1950m distance, the former, shorter, contest arguably taking pride of place with the wonderful Bochart heading the weights for Bhupat Seemar.
A 9yo Dubawi gelding, he has been a great servant to the owners, Al Bait Mutawahed Team and Zabeel Stables, winning for them on nine occasions having arrived in the UAE a maiden after nine starts in Britain for Godolpin and Charlie Appleby.
Twice a winner at the 2020 Dubai World Cup Carnival, two of six Meydan victories, he has tasted Jebel Ali success on three occasions, most recently over this 1600m in March. With the benefit of his seasonal reappearance, over 1600m here at Jebel Ali, and history suggesting he will improve for that return to action, he could prove a major player.
Rashed Bouresly is certainly keeping Shanty Star busy and, after his 1700m feature race success at Sharjah as recently as Sunday, will certainly not be lacking race fitness; this will be his fifth start already this season. A 6yo Hard Spun entire, he is actually yet to win at Jebel Ali but has produced some merit-worthy performances in defeat, over a variety of trips, and at least arrives fully fit and at the top of his game.
Musabbeh Al Mheiri saddled a Meydan treble last Friday and almost won all the last four races so his team are clearly in great heart. He was not represented at Sharjah on Sunday so is seeking to continue his ‘red hot streak’ and Shadwells’ Almoreb is something of a course and distance specialist with three victories under these conditions.
Runner-up, again over this track and trip, on his seasonal bow a fortnight ago, he looks certain to be thereabouts in a competitive heat. With Doug Watson heading the trainers’ table at this early stage of proceedings his Boston George has to be respected in a contest Pick Six players will likely mull over for a long while.
Meanwhile, the 1950m handicap of equal value only received eight entries on Monday when, immediately noticeable, Watson was responsible for just one, joint top weight Violent Justice. Only a 3yo, the son of Violence was gelded over the summer, having won once in four outings, a 1400m maiden here up the Jebel Ali hill.
His other three starts during the last campaign were all at Meydan, the best arguably his third placing, on his final appearance of the season, in the 1900m Listed Al Bastakiya, the UAE Derby prep race, on Super Saturday.
This will be his second start of the new campaign over this course and distance having contested a similar race three weeks ago but well adrift of the winner and beating just two of three opponents out. To coin a phrase: ‘the jury is out’. That race was won by Rakeez, like Violent Justice owned by Al Rashid Stables but this one in the care of Seemar.
He clearly relished conditions on that occasion and could prove the one to beat. When sixth on debut, over 1400m at Meydan last December, Violent Justice was well beaten in that maiden contested by a dozen 2yos. That was won by debutante Mujeer, a 3yo filly who then struggled up in class but was far from disgraced on her seasonal bow when not beaten far when fourth in a handicap over this 1950m up the hill.
SELECTIONS
Race 1: Mutef Jr W’Rsan
Race 2: Lahresh
Race 3: Almoreb
Race 4: State Event (NB)
Race 5: Imprison
Race 6: Tolmount
Race 7: Rakeez (Nap)
--©BreedersCup2022(4).JPG)
