Fantastic Jebel Ali Form Continues For Muhairi, Smith and Egziama

Record-Setting Russian Rock and Treble Jig Both Record Victories 

Treble Jig Returns to the winners enclosure led in by Musabah Al Muhairi
 as owner Fathi Egziama looks on delighted

Treble Time after Russian Rock completes trebles for Wayne Smith
and Al Muhairi as owner Egziama brings up a big race double

The amazing Jebel Ali run of owner Fathi Esaed Mohd Egziama, trainer Musabah Al Muhairi and jockey Wayne Smith continued on Friday afternoon when they celebrated a double in the two main races.

First up was Treble Jig, their winner of last season`s Jebel Ali Stakes and Jebel Ali Mile (a unique double) and proved too good for nine rivals in the 1800m prep race for the Jebel Ali Stakes, despite having to concede weight all round. Smith was happy to track a steady pace set by Paul Hanagan on Haatheq, in the colours of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum whose Shadwell breeding organisation sponsored the race.

The jockey always looked confident before sending his mount to the front about 400m out and they always looked in control with Haatheq staying on gamely to finish second – as he had done behind the same horse in last season’s Jebel Ali Mile.

Smith explained: “He is just a better horse at Jebel Ali than anywhere else and he seems to be improving. He could be a bit of a tearaway last season but has grown up so I was quite happy to take a lead knowing full well that he stays further up that hill.

“It was a very good performance considering he was giving weight away and we will be back in two weeks to defend our Jebel Ali Stakes crown and then a fortnight later in the Jebel Ali Mile.”

With a strong tailwind, Treble Jig was the third to set a course record on the day.

The same connections then combined with last season`s Jebel Ali Sprint winner Russian Rock. That victory last term rounded off a remarkable record-setting treble which saw the same connections winning all three of Jebel Ali`s biggest races. This time Russian Rock faced nine rivals in a 1200m conditions race and just held on from the fast-finishing United Color having led just after halfway.

Smith said: “I always thought I was going to hold on and it has been another great afternoon at my favourite track. The Jebel Ali Sprint in early March is his main target but we will find something else for him here before then.”

Trainer and jockey were actually completing a treble having also combined with Trojan Nights to win the 1600m handicap.

The only Purebred Arabian race on the card was the opening 1400m conditions race and Hanagan was in the saddle on AF Lafeh who broke the track record (Purebred Arabian) for trainer Gill Duffield. Hanagan said: “We knew he had a decent chance and I was able to get a nice berth and everything basically went to plan.”

The following 1400m handicap saw Tiz Now Tiz Then set a new 1400m (Thoroughbred) track record under apprentice jockey Marc Monaghan who was riding for his main employer Satish Seemar. Never far off the pace, Monaghan`s mount quickened clear from stable companion Kaiss approaching the final 200m and he was never going to be caught.

The eighteen-year-old jockey said: “I was always travelling strongly and he picked up nicely to win well. That is my 21st career winner and I am enjoying this stint in the UAE.”
Racing concluded with a 1200m maiden and Champion Trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe saddled a 1-2 with Harry Bentley and Need to Know denying Royston Ffrench on stable companion Latkhaf.