Golden Jaguar aims to repeat feat

Dubai: Jebel Ali Racecourse stages its second meeting of the new season on Friday afternoon with a seven-race card that is highlighted by a quality 1400m conditions race worth Dhs125,000 (about $34,000). Topping said event is Phoenix Ladies Syndicate’s 2019 Dubai World Cup Carnival winner Golden Jaguar, from the yard of Ahmad Bin Harmash. A flashy 3-year-old Animal Kingdom colt, he made a winning racecourse debut over 1000m at Jebel Ali before landing the 1400m Meydan Classic Trial on the turf at Meydan.

Subsequently denied at the wire by the classy Group winner Sporting Chance over 1600m in the Listed Meydan Classic, he finished his first campaign with a disappointing effort when failing to beat any of 13 rivals in the $2.5 million UAE Derby (G2) in late March on dirt.

“His main aims will be on the grass this season, but this race looks a good starting point for him and he did win here last season,” Harmash reported to Phoenix Thoroughbreds’ publicity. “It’s going to be tougher for him this time around, having to take on older horses, but he is very talented. Hopefully he can prove to be up to the challenge.”

The highest-rated in the field is Inverleigh, who was formerly trained in Ireland by Ger Lyons, winning twice and finishing second in the Ballycorus Stakes (G3) on his most recent appearance in June. A 3-year-old Excelebration colt trained by Salem Bin Ghadayer for Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, he will be ridden by stable jockey Royston Ffrench.

“He has settled in nicely and has been working well,” Ffrench said. “He has some very good form on Ireland and is rated 104, so in theory, at least, he is the best horse in the race. Obviously it is not that simple and he needs to prove himself on dirt and at Jebel Ali, but we are very much looking forward to running him and getting him on the track.”

Recordman is another interesting addition to the UAE equine ranks and will be making his debut for Satish Seemar, having won once on the all-weather at Chelmsford for Godolphin and Saeed Bin Suroor. Subsequently purchased on behalf of Seemar by former multiple UAE Champion Jockey Ted Durcan for 65,000 guineas at Tattersalls in February, the 4-year-old son of Dubawi, now owned by Mohd Khaleel Ahmed, has been gelded over the summer. Of four Seemar runners, Recordman will be ridden by Antonio Fresu.

First-call Zabeel Racing jockey Richard Mullen has opted to partner Gaudi, who well beaten on the Abu Dhabi turf on his sole local outing to date back in February. A 4-year-old by Invincible Spirit and three-quarter brother to G2 winner Forest Ranger, he too has been gelded since last seen in public and has one win to his name, on the Lingfield all-weather which was his final start for John Gosden.

Seemar also saddles Karaginsky, the mount of local champion Tadhg O’Shea and The New Maharaja, a first ever UAE ride for promising apprentice Sean Kirrane.