ERA praises Halawani for keeping track in shape

DUBAI: The Jebel Ali Racecourse will host Purebred Arabian racing for the first time this season on its seven-race card on Friday, highlighted by a 1600m conditions contest.

Sponsored by Shadwell, the feature race carries a prize fund of Dhs100,000 and has received five entries. Three trainers including Ali Rashid Al Rayhi, Doug Watson and Salem Bin Ghadayer are in the fray.

The race sponsor, Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE’s Minister of Finance, is well represented with Eqtiraan, Gabr and Mashaheer.

Watson-trained Gabr is the top-rated with a rating of 97 and is followed closely by a 95-rated Captain Von Trapp, who is trained by Ghadayer for Phoenix Thoroughbred. Rayhi’s charge Eqtiraan is next at 89.

Besides the single Purebred Arabian race, the remaining six races are for Thoroughbreds and have attracted top-quality horses. The details of the second meeting of the Jebel Ali calendar were revealed during a virtual press conference held at the Jebel Racecourse on Tuesday.

Sam Shinsky, head of the stewards committee at Emirates Racing Authority, said: “The fields are pretty good and it’s good to have Jebel Ali come forward in support of Purebred Arabian racing.

“It is a good card and we have some good contests for Thoroughbreds thereafter with the feature – a conditions contest over 1600m. A lot of trainers had asked for a conditions race earlier in the season, but the race isn’t heavily supported and the success of these types of races in the future will depend on the level of participation.”

Lauding the efforts of Jebel Ali Racecourse manager Shareef Al Halawani-led team, Shinsky said: “The management has worked very well on the track during the off season to resurrect a good safe surface for everyone.

“For this and everything that Halawani and his team has done, the management deserves appreciation. Their plans moving forward are good for racing in the 2020-21 season.

“The race times have been slower but it’s not about running quick times but conducting racing on a safe surface and we have achieved that on the first meeting. It is a step in the right direction. The track has raced fairly so far and none of the riders have been complaining so it’s good.

“They have also adhered to safety protocols and taken measures to ensure a safe atmosphere for the riders by increasing the size of the jockeys’ room.”

Halawani said efforts were ongoing to continue track enhancement work in the hope of providing a safe and secure environment for all involved.

“We have worked to better the standard of the surface again between the two meetings and we have made further improvements. You will see it on Friday. The track will be better and I think everybody will be happy. I believe that race after race the situation will improve further as this is a new track and it needs time to settle down,” Halawani added.

Commenting on the card ERA representative Yasser Mabrouk said: “It’s always good to see Purebred Arabian racing staged alongside a Thoroughbred card. It is a competitive card with seven races and a good amount of prize money. Jebel Ali has always been a popular racecourse for trainers and jockeys, but unfortunately, racing will be without fans.”

Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda, who has won three UAE Owner Championship titles, praised the efforts of Sheikh Hamdan in promoting the racing for local breds.

“Shadwell are doing a lot to promote Purebred Arabian racing around the world and in the UAE as well there is a lot of work being done to preserve the heritage of the breed and ensure there is a lot of racing for local connections,” said Naboodah.