Saayedd shines in Jebel Ali feature as Royal Commando conquers The Curragh

Amir Naqvi, Sports Editor

Sheikh Ahmed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Saayedd fended off a fierce charge from his rivals to claim victory in the Shadwell Stakes, while Salem Bin Ghadayer’s Royal Commando dominated The Curragh amidst the Irish fervour at the eighth meeting of Jebel Ali Racecourse on Saturday.

The son of Malibu Moon under Ben Coen won the feature after surging past Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi’s Daramethos in the final furlong.

It was a fierce duel between Saayedd and Daramethos, with both thundering stride for stride in a thrilling race. But in the end, Michael Costa’s determined gelding dug deep, finding an extra gear to move ahead and seize a hard-fought victory.

Costa expressed his satisfaction after securing victory in the feature race.

"It’s always a great feeling to win the feature race, especially when coming back to familiar ground at our home track.

"Saayedd showed a tremendous amount of guts today and demonstrated that he is truly back to his best,” he added.

 Ghadayer’s Royal Commando, with Xavier Ziani in the iron, edged out Salman Al Sabri’s Al Muzn in a photo finish.

Locked in an electrifying battle from start to finish, both contenders refused to yield, but in the final stretch, No Nay Never’s son unleashed a blistering burst of speed, firing on all cylinders to snatch victory in a dramatic fashion.

Musabbeh Al Mheiri’s Shepperton Lodge delivered a commanding performance in the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Stakes, winning by more than three lengths over Costa’s Elzaami.

With Silvestre de Sousa in the saddle, Shepperton Lodge broke swiftly, seized control early, and never looked back, keeping Elzaami at bay to cruise to a dominant win.

Bhupat Seemar’s Guarani blazed to victory in the Gain Equine Nutrition International Stakes, a 1200m sprint.

Guarani surged ahead, crossing the finish line more than three lengths clear of stablemate Cabrit.

Costa and Coen completed a double as Elraaed reigned supreme in the Glorious Saturday Handicap.

The son of Dubawi, draped in the iconic yellow silks of Sheikh Ahmed, powered home with an unchallenged flourish to finish nearly four lengths ahead of Ghost of Mambo.

“This year marks 50 years of diplomatic relations between the UAE and Ireland, and to celebrate this milestone, we have introduced the concept of an Irish Race Day alongside the anniversary celebrations, said Mohamed Al Ahmed, General Manager, Jebel Ali Racecourse.

"This proves that it’s not just about racing—it’s about much more. There is a significant cultural and business exchange, and we are delighted to welcome Alison Milton, Ambassador of Ireland, to the racecourse, along with three sponsors from Ireland: Gain Equine Nutrition, The Curragh Racecourse, and Irish Thoroughbred Marketing. We also extend our gratitude to our long-standing partners, Porsche and Shadwell.

“We see this initiative as an innovative concept that has attracted people beyond the racing community, encouraging new audiences to explore and learn more about the sport. Our goal is to engage different segments of society.”

The Curragh Racecourse, the home of Irish flat racing, is based in County Kildare.

It hosts some of the most prestigious races in the world, including all five Irish Classic races.

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Higher Organising Committee for their continuous support, as well as to everyone involved in making this event a success.

“A special thanks to our three Irish sponsors—Gain Equine Nutrition, The Curragh Racecourse, and Irish Thoroughbred Marketing — for adding great value to Jebel Ali and the racing scene as a whole,” Ahmed signed off. Evan Arkwright, Racing and Sponsorship Manager of The Curragh Racecourse, also attended the meeting. Mheiri and De Sousa savored a second triumph as African Candy lived up to its name, delivering a sweet and scintillating victory in the 3YO NW2 Stakes.

With De Sousa in the saddle, the three-year-old colt surged ahead, turning the race into a spectacle of power and finesse.

Earlier, Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda’s Af Alajra won the Porsche Cup—the opening race of the day dedicated to four-year-old Purebred Arabians bred in the UAE.