THE third meeting of the Jebel Ali season featured a six-furlong, Shadwell-sponsored conditions race won by the French-bred, Doug Watson-trained Al Tariq, who produced a gutsy performance to succeed on his seasonal return under Pat Dobbs.

Owned by Abdulmohsen Al Abdulkareem, the five-year-old Oasis Dream gelding has now won half of his six outings since joining Doug Watson. The first was a victory in the five-furlong Listed Jebel Ali Sprint in early February, followed 13 days later by annexing the six-furlong Group 3 Al Shindagha Sprint on the dirt at Meydan. Dobbs has been in the saddle on each occasion he has won in the UAE.

The winning trainer said: “That was very pleasing under a big weight off a break and it was a tough, battling, performance. We know he goes well here and is turning into a decent sprinter which is great for owner.”

For three-year-olds only, and the main support race, a six-furlong conditions contest was won in some style by King Leo, Sultan Ali’s gelded son of The Last Lion never headed under Ray Dawson who was completing a rapid double for both himself and his main employer, trainer Ahmad bin Harmash.

A maiden after two starts for John Gosden and Godolphin, King Leo is now unbeaten on dirt having also won, on the first day of the season, a maiden over this course and distance, partnered on that occasion by apprentice Saif Al Balushi.

Commemoration Day

The opening seven-furlong maiden, the Commemoration Day Cup, attracted a field of eight and it was the only debutant, the Irish-bred Island Rule, who made the perfect belated start to his career. Saddled by Bin Harmash for Mohammed Al Suboosi, the four-year-old No Nay Never gelding grabbed the initiative a furlong and a half from home and ran out an easy winner. Dawson said: “He had shown ability at home so we came here hoping for a big run and that was a pleasing performance in what seemed a decent race for the grade.”

Five two-year-olds made their debut in a five-furlong maiden, and Royston Ffrench made every post a winning one, scoring an easy victory by five lengths aboard the impressive Razeen Dubai.

The Frosted colt was purchased for £60,000 at the Arqana in Doncaster Breeze-Up in May from Brown Island Stables and, trained by Salem bin Ghadayer, maintains the perfect strike rate of owner Saeed Sultan Al Rahoomi this season. The only other horse he has raced, Atlantic Sky, won a maiden at Meydan three weeks ago for Musabbeh Al Mheiri.

Ffrench said: “He had impressed us at home and showed a really mature attitude throughout the whole new experience for him. He could not have won much more easily and hopefully there is more to come from him.”

Capacity fields

A capacity field of 16 went to post for the near 10-furlong handicap which turned into an easy task for Lady Snazz, Tadhg O’Shea riding in the colours of Michael Hilary Burke and Negar Burke for in-form trainer Bhupat Seemar. The five-year-old daughter of Curlin was doubling her career tally, having won a maiden on the Meydan dirt in November 2020.

The concluding mile handicap also attracted a capacity field, this time 14, and Ffrench was again victorious for bin Ghadayer, on this occasion sporting the silks of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohd Al Maktoum aboard Untold Secret. The near-veteran Shamardal nine-year-old was registering his seventh career success on his 52nd start.