Record Setting Russian Rock And Treble Jig Back In Action At Jebel Ali

Record Setting Russian Rock And Treble Jig Back In Action At Jebel Ali 

Musabah Al Muhairi`s Stable Stars To Build On Promising Form

Treble Jig, winner of both the Jebel Ali Stakes and Jebel Ali Mile and Russian Rock, who triumphed in the Jebel Ali Sprint are both in action at the track’s final meeting of 2012 on Friday afternoon. The record-setting duo helped their owner, Fathi Esaed Mohd Egziama, trainer, Musabah Al Muhairi and stable jockey, Wayne Smith to a previously unheard of clean sweep of Jebel Ali’s three biggest races, while Treble Jig became the first horse to land the Stakes and Mile.

Treble Jig is penalised for those wins and will need to be at his best in the 1800m conditions race which is the official prep for the Listed Jebel Ali Stakes over 1950m but Smith sounds very hopeful. “He has run two great races this season at Meydan and Abu Dhabi but is a better horse at Jebel Ali and I think he is the one they all have to beat,” he said.

Heading the dangers would appear to be Haatheq, winner of this prep race two years ago and trained by Ali Rashid Al Raihe for HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum whose Shadwell breeding organisation generously sponsor the race. The owner`s retained jockey, Paul Hanagan takes the ride and was clearly impressed with the horse`s course victory over 1600m two weeks ago.

“Haatheq has a touch of class,” Hanagan said. “And that was a great performance last time. It had been a while since he had won but he has run some massive races in defeat and I expect him to go very close on Friday.”

Course and distance winner Jutland, trained by Doug Watson, looks a serious rival and the trainer said: “After he won on his seasonal return this was always the next real target and then the Jebel Ali Stakes. We found a race for him at Meydan and he ran well but he likes Jebel Ali and will relish the 1950m of the Stakes itself but should run well over 1800m.

“It is a step up in class but I am hopeful though Treble Jig and Haatheq are clearly big dangers.”
An hour later Russian Rock will face 10 rivals in a 1200m conditions race which has also attracted Spin Cycle, winner of the 2011 Jebel Ali Sprint (1000m). This looks ultra competitive and Smith continued: “Russian Rock is another who seems a better horse at Jebel Ali and we expect a big run against some familiar rivals.”

These include Mujaazef, again representing Sheikh Hamdan, Al Raihe and Hanagan. He beat Russian Rock in a similar race over 1000m last time when Kilt Rock was third for Watson and his enthusiastic group of owners, the Emirates Entertainment Racing Club (EERC).

Dhruba Selvaratnam, who trains on the track for racecourse owner Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, introduces two new horses to the UAE in the shape of United Color and Shabora and the pair add extra intrigue to a fascinating sprint clash.

First Flights Touch Down Ahead of January 10 Dubai World Cup Carnival

High-Profile Horses To Contest Dubai’s Big Money International Season

Horses from 21 countries, including 26 International Group 1 winners, have been accepted for the Dubai World Cup Carnival which gets underway on January 10 at Meydan Racecourse.

The first flights, bearing more than 60 horses, touched down from Europe and Singapore during the Christmas week and a further 70 horses are due to arrive in the first week of January.

The list of equine stars features high-profile racehorses including India’s highly-regarded filly, In The Spotlight, who claimed an Indian Classic at every racing centre in the country including Bangalore, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Pune, before travelling to Dubai.

Conditioned by S. Padmanabhan, In The Spotlight is slated to have her first Dubai World Carnival start in a handicap on January 17, when she will race for the first time on a left-handed course as well as against truly international competition.

Back for a second season is Singapore-based trainer, Steven Burridge, who enjoyed great success on his debut season in Dubai in 2012. Burridge, who claimed four winners from 11 runs, is set to saddle four horses this season, including Benji’s Empire, Devil’s Cut, Freezemaster and Tiger Stripes.

The Dubai World Cup Carnival culminates with the March 30 Dubai World Cup, the richest day of racing in the world, which carries USD$27,25m in prize purses. In total the Dubai World Cup Carnival and Dubai World Cup day are worth $37,36m in prize money.

“The start of the Dubai World Cup Carnival is fast approaching and excitement is building as more and more contenders arrive at Meydan Racecourse ahead of the January 10 start date,” said Martin Talty, Dubai Racing Club’s International Manager. “One of the most pleasing aspects so far is not only the numbers and the truly global reach of the Dubai World Cup Carnival, but also the quality of horses, which continue to improve year on year.

“While many trainers specifically target particular races in the Dubai World Cup Carnival, it is also fascinating to watch progressive horses that improve so much during the ten meetings that they ultimately earn a place in a race on Dubai World Cup day.”

Last year Krypton Factor won the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, sponsored by Gulf News on Dubai World Cup day after progressing through the highly-regarded Dubai World Cup Carnival sprint races. The Fawzi Nass charge is set to defend his crown this season with his first start likely to be in the February 14 Group 3 Al Shindagha Sprint.

Next year’s Dubai World Cup Carnival also sees Pearl Bloodstock, the owners of 2012 Caulfield Cup winner and 2011 Melbourne Cup and Hong Kong Vase victor, Dunaden, cheering on their first Dubai runners. Side Glance, Dubawi Sound and King Air have all been accepted to the three-month long festival of racing.

Pat Shanahan, a familiar face at the Dubai World Cup Carnival as a jockey, returns to try his hand from the ground as trainer with Chicago, My Special J’s, and Colliding Worlds all accepted.

Another rider-turned-trainer, Jessica Harrington, a former eventer who achieved a third at the world-renowned Badminton Horse Trails, saddles her first Dubai runner, Bob Le Beau.

To see the list of accepted horses for the 2013 Dubai World Cup Carnival, please click on the link below:

http://dubairacingclub.com/sites/default/files/2013_DWCC.pdf

Please note that this is a working database which is subject to change.

Quite A Show Stages A Surprise At Meydan Racecourse

Doug Watson’s Purebred Arabian Claims Group 2 Mazrat Al Ruwayah

Quite A Show sprang something of a surprise in the featured Group 2 Mazrat Al Ruwayah, defying a Group 1 penalty to land the 1600m contest, the only Purebred Arabian race on the card at Meydan on Thursday.

Trained by Doug Watson for HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, he was ridden by Dane O'Neill and was winning on the all-weather for the first time.

"He is certainly tough and has really battled to get his head in front and then stuck his neck out to stay there," said O'Neill.

Watson said his charge would now be heading for a Dubai World Cup Carnival outing.

"That was a nice surprise because he is only tiny and had to give weight away to some real good horses but he is a genuine Group 1 performer,” he said. "I was not worried about the surface as he was third on it last season. He will go for Al Maktoum Challenge Round I now."

On an evening kindly sponsored by Al Tayer Motors, Dubai World Cup Carnival clues were provided by Surfer and Ganas, both impressive winners.

Trained by Satish Seemar, Surfer won a 1400m conditions race to follow up his previous 1600m maiden victory and delighted his jockey Richard Mullen who said: “That was very pleasing – not just the fact that he won but because he was a lot more relaxed this evening.

“He is really growing up and improving with experience and that maiden win helped his confidence no end. We will have to look at the Maktoum Challenge races now and he is going to be better over 1600m and probably 1800m.”

Trainer and jockey were completing a double having won the preceding 2200m handicap with Layali Al Andalus.

Ganas made all in a 1200m handicap, for the third time this season, for jockey Tadhg O’Shea and his trainer, Ernst Oertel who explained “He has just not stopped improving all season and we really think he will be better with a lead – it is just finding a horse quick enough to give him a lead.

“We will have to find a race for him at the Dubai World Cup Carnival now.”

Paul Hanagan continued his great start to the season and he too was in double form, combining twice with Champion Trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe. Hanagan was seen at his very best when weaving through the field on Maali to win the opening1950m maiden with the four-year-old finally opening his account at the 17th attempt.

Hanagan then had to wait until the last, a 1400m conditions race, to complete their doubles and he was sporting the famous blue and white silks of his main employer HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum on Tamaathul.

A juvenile winner in the UK in 2009, Tamaathul had not won since buy was only caught close home on his previous start and Hanagan said: “He deserved that win after some very solid efforts in defeat and it is great to ride my first winner for the boss here at Meydan – having ridden my first winner at the track earlier.

“It has been a really good start to my UAE season and I am really looking forward to the Dubai World Cup Carnival.

MERIGO IN GOOD FORM AHEAD OF WETHERBY ON BOXING DAY

Andrew Parker's stable star Merigo is on course for a tilt at the £40,000 Betfair. Don't Settle For Less Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase (1.45pm) at Wetherby on Boxing Day, Wednesday, December 26, the first day of the Welcome To Yorkshire Christmas Meeting.

The popular 11-year-old captured the Scottish Grand National for a second time in April when denying Auroras Encore in the shadow of the post. He also won the four-mile marathon at Ayr impressively in 2010 and filled the runner-up spot behind Beshabar in 2011.

He has been well beaten in two starts this year, coming home fifth at Kelso on his reappearance on November 10 and ninth at Haydock later the same month.

Parker said: "Merigo goes to Wetherby for the Betfair. Don't Settle For Less Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase. He has been fine since his run at Haydock and you look at his form and you can see he always takes a long time to come to hand.

"We have to keep trying though and we will go to Wetherby and see how he gets on but, as we all know, he is always better after Christmas.

"He is a funny horse because some days it looks as if he doesn't like soft ground but then he goes and wins on heavy.

"The Scottish Grand National is the big target again with him because three of his last four wins have come over four miles. He is not quick and the race he won over three miles last year was more in his comfort zone than the Rowland Meyrick will be but we have to try because they don't make any money sitting at home in the stable.

"It's fairytale stuff for a Scottish-trained horse to go and win the Scottish Grand National twice and he doesn't owe anybody anything. He enjoys his racing and isn't one of these 11 or 12-year-olds running with cheekpieces or blinkers on because he still loves it."

The other entries include Helpston and Midnight Chase, who finished second and third respectively in the race 12 months ago. Local Bingley-based handler Sue Smith has two possible starters in Mr Moonshine and Auroras Encore, while Fergal O'Brien has made an entry for the progressive Alvarado, who was successful at Wetherby in the Bobby Renton Handicap Chase on October 17.

The Betfair. Don't Settle For Less Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase, run over three miles and a furlong, was first staged in 1957 and boasts an excellent roll of honour with subsequent Cheltenham Gold Cup winners Forgive 'N Forget (1984) and The Thinker (1986) among the winners.

Yahoo, who chased home Desert Orchid in the 1989 Cheltenham Gold Cup, scored in 1987, while the Ferdy Murphy-trained Truckers Tavern, second to Best Mate in the 2003 Cheltenham Gold Cup, took the spoils in 2004.

An exciting six-race card on Boxing Day gets underway at 12.35pm and also features the £10,000 Read Donald McCain's Column On Betfair Handicap Chase (2.55pm, 25 entries) over an extended two and a half miles.

The £16,000 Castleford Handicap Chase (2.20pm) over two miles is the highlight on Thursday, December 27, the second and final day of the Welcome To Yorkshire Christmas Meeting. Gates open at 10am on both days.

There will be a real Christmas atmosphere on both days of the Welcome To Yorkshire Christmas Meeting at Wetherby with mulled wine and mince pies on offer for the early birds, as well as live music from LA Jazz Band and Endeavour Ceilidh Band.

Racegoers will also have the opportunity to interact with reindeer on both days courtesy of Rigmore Reindeer & Co, while, 12 months on from his 'official' retirement, Mister McGoldrick will return to his beloved Wetherby, where he won eight races during a glittering career, thanks to locally-based racehorse retraining centre New Beginnings.

GOING

The going at Wetherby remains HEAVY, SOFT IN PLACES

Temperatures of +6/7C are expected for the next seven days.

There was 36mm rain between Wednesday night and this (Friday) morning.

Today's forecast is for a dry day before further rain on Saturday, putting down up to 15mm. The forecast is for dry and sunny days thereafter.

Jonjo Sanderson, Chief Executive and Clerk of the Course at Wetherby, said today: "Understandably, following more heavy rainfall during the last 36 hours, many will be wondering what the prospects are for the Welcome to Yorkshire Christmas Meeting taking place on December 26 and 27.

"Following 36mm of rainfall between 6.00pm on Wednesday and the early hours of this morning, the back straight adjacent to York Road, has flooded as a result of the dykes and becks that carry our storm water from the racecourse to the River Nidd backing up, which is as a consequence of the current height of the river itself. Put simply, the water has nowhere to go.

"The current weather forecast is for a dry day today (Friday) before a further band of heavy rain arrives on Saturday. Thereafter, the forecast from Sunday onwards is for dry and sunny days, which will hopefully allow the river level to drop and the excess water to drain off the course and into the dykes.

"So far as racing on Wednesday and Thursday go, it will be a question of waiting to see if the water can subside quickly enough. At this stage, we do not envisage any decisions being taken on whether to abandon racing or not, until the morning of the race meeting on Wednesday, December 26.

"We will try everything in our powers to ensure that racing takes place on both days of the Welcome to Yorkshire Christmas Meeting and your patience and understanding at this time is much appreciated.

"A further update will be posted on the website on Sunday."

17 ENTERED FOR BETFAIR. DON'T SETTLE FOR LESS ROWLAND MEYRICK HANDICAP CHASE

- JEFFERSON HOPING TRIBULATION CAN MAKE THE LINE UP

A total of 17 entries have been received for the £40,000 Betfair. Don't Settle For Less Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase (1.45pm), the highlight of the six-race programme at Wetherby on Boxing Day, Wednesday, December 26, day one of the Welcome To Yorkshire Christmas Meeting.

Last year's renewal of the three mile, one furlong contest was landed by the Malcolm Jefferson-trained According To Pete and the handler, who is based in Malton, is hoping to be represented this time around by Cape Tribulation.

The eight-year-old has combined running both over hurdles and fences in the past 12 months and also raced on the Flat at York in October. He recorded a memorable double in the spring when successful in the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival and in a valuable handicap hurdle at the John Smith's Grand National meeting at Aintree. Cape Tribulation's latest appearance came at Wetherby on November 3, when he was fifth to Tidal Bay in the Grade Two John Smith's West Yorkshire Hurdle.

Malcolm Jefferson said today: "All being well, Cape Tribulation goes for the Betfair. Don't Settle For Less Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase.

"His run on the Flat at York in October (when he was second in a two mile, two furlong handicap under top-weight) was alright but nothing went right for him at Wetherby.

"He is in good form now and we'll just see how things go for him. I just wish the weather would dry up a little bit! There has been so much rain about up here."

The other entries include Helpston and Midnight Chase, who finished second and third respectively in the race 12 months ago. Local Bingley-based handler Sue Smith has two possible starters in Mr Moonshine and Auroras Encore, while Fergal O'Brien has made an entry for the progressive Alvarado, who was successful at Wetherby in the Bobby Renton Handicap Chase on October 17.

The Betfair. Don't Settle For Less Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase, run over three miles and a furlong, was first staged in 1957 and boasts an excellent roll of honour with subsequent Cheltenham Gold Cup winners Forgive N Forget (1984) and The Thinker (1986) among the winners.

Yahoo, who chased home Desert Orchid in the 1989 Cheltenham Gold Cup, scored in 1987, while the Ferdy Murphy-trained Truckers Tavern, second to Best Mate in the 2003 Cheltenham Gold Cup, took the spoils in 2004.

An exciting six-race card on Boxing Day gets underway at 12.35pm and also features the £10,000 Read Donald McCain's Column On Betfair Handicap Chase (2.55pm, 25 entries) over an extended two and a half miles.

The £16,000 Castleford Handicap Chase (2.20pm) over two miles is the highlight on Thursday, December 27 the second and final day of the Welcome To Yorkshire Christmas Meeting. Gates open at 10am on both days.

There will be a real Christmas atmosphere on both days of the Welcome To Yorkshire Christmas Meeting with mulled wine and mince pies on offer for the early birds, as well as live music from  LA Jazz Band and Endeavour Ceilidh Band.

Racegoers will also have the opportunity to interact with reindeer on both days courtesy of Rigmore Reindeer & Co, while, 12 months on from his 'official' retirement, Mister McGoldrick will return to his beloved Wetherby, where he won eight races during a glittering career, thanks to locally-based racehorse retraining centre New Beginnings.

GOING

The going at Wetherby is currently: HEAVY, SOFT IN PLACES

CHELTENHAM ANNOUNCES DETAIL ON RECORD 2013 PRIZE MONEY FIGURES, INCLUDING THE FIRST £1m GOLD CUP DAY

Yesterday, Jockey Club Racecourses, owners of Cheltenham Racecourse and 14 other courses, announced a significant increase to prize money across the Group in 2013.

Today, Cheltenham releases some detail on its own greatly enhanced prize money offering for next year.

Total prize money for 2013 at Cheltenham will be a record £6.12m, a near 12 per cent increase from 2012, meaning that each race at the course will be worth an average of £57,000.

At The Festival, held in 2013 from Tuesday to Friday, March 12-15, prize money will be £3.82m, up by £445,000 from 2012, with the average Festival race now worth an astonishing £141,500.

Almost every race at The Festival is increasing in value, with the major Championship events all breaking new ground in prize money terms, as follows:

Race	2013 Value	2012 Value
Stan James Champion Hurdle	£400,000	£370,000
Sportingbet Queen Mother Champion Chase	£350,000	£320,000
Ladbrokes World Hurdle	£275,000	£260,000
Ryanair Chase	£275,000	£260,000
Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup	£550,000	£500,000

  

Total prize money on Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup day, Friday, March 15, will now exceed £1m for the first time.

Ian Renton, Regional Director for Cheltenham and the South West, said: "This is great news for us and for all those who support Jump racing at Cheltenham.

"The Jockey Club exists for the good of the sport and the prize money boost is further concrete evidence that, at Cheltenham and throughout the Group, we are putting everything we make back into the sport about which we all care so passionately.

"I would also like to thank our sponsors, who are contributing significant amounts to these excellent prize money totals."

Simon Claisse, Regional Head of Racing and Clerk of the Course at Cheltenham, added: "I am delighted that we are able to reward further the investment made by owners in horses that compete at the pinnacle of Jump racing.

"Increased prize money is also a significant boost for the jockeys, the trainers and the stable staff involved with horses that run at Cheltenham."

Purebred Arabians Contest Group 2 Mazrat Al Ruwayah

AF Alghabra and Kandar Du Falgas are set to clash once again in the Group 2 Mazrat Al Ruwayah at Meydan Racecourse on Thursday (tomorrow).

Last year’s winner and runner-up make up a high-class Purebred Arabian field in Meydan’s first pattern race of the season, one of a quality six-race card sponsored by Al Tayer Motors.

Trained by Gill Duffield, AF Alghabra has been a real star for the stable and is seeking a ninth career win in the 1600m contest she won by almost two lengths 12 months ago under Tadhg O’Shea who is in the saddle again. The pair were third in the course and distance prep a fortnight ago.

“That was her first run of the season and she was entitled to need it,” explained the jockey. “She is seven now and improved from her first run to win this last year and hopefully she can go close this year but it looks a strong renewal.”

Her old rival Kandar Du Falgas was fifth in that prep race but is the choice of Paul Hanagan from two runners owned by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum and trained by Doug Watson. The other, Quite A Show, is having his third start this season and has a Group 1 penalty to overcome.

“Both mine are working well enough but it looks a good race and that penalty makes it tricky for Quite A Show so Paul looks on our best hope. He was perhaps a bit disappointing in the prep but he was giving weight away and we have freshened him up. This has been the target and he owes us nothing having been great for the yard over the years.”

Trainer Majed Al Jahouri dominated that prep, saddling Dariya to win from stable companion Thakif with a further stablemate, Rakha in fourth. Ahmed Ajtebi rode the winner and maintains the partnership with Al Jahouri also saddling Naseem, while multiple Group 1 winner Sahib Du Clos, trained by Saifaldin Deeb, is another to carry a penalty.

There is plenty of exciting Thoroughbred action on the card as well with Surfer bidding to go one place better in a 1400m conditions race in which he was second last year. Richard Mullen takes the ride for his main employer, Satish Seemar and they arrive here having won a 1600m course maiden last time.

“He seems to have improved with that maiden win under his belt and this looks an ideal opportunity to get one more race into him before the Dubai World Cup Carnival,” said Mullen.

Entifaadha, having his first start for trainer Musabah Al Muhairi, could be the main danger but has to give weight to all his 11 rivals.

Ali Rashid Al Raihe’s 2010 Group 1 Dubai Duty Free winner Al Shemali heads the weights in a 2200m handicap in which the opposition are headed by stable companion Rochdale, the mount of stable jockey Royston Ffrench.

The 1200m course and distance record holder, Alo Pura faces seven rivals in a quality sprint handicap in which the Ernst Oertel-trained Ganas will seek a third course and distance win for the season. O’Shea said: “This is by far his toughest test yet – off a career high mark against better horses – but he deserves his place in this company and we will find out how good he is.”