Ali Rashid Al Raihe, the three-time UAE champion trainer, has a strong presence in today's opening meeting of the season at the Jebel Ali Racecourse.
He has 14 entries in the six-race card and starts his campaign with three runners in the opener in which Enjoy Today looks to be the top pick under the stable jockey Royston Ffrench in the silks of Jaber Abdullah.
Mutual Force will be ridden by the stable's Emirati apprentice Saeed Al Mazrooei, while David Smith is on Forest Runner.
Al Raihe is double-handed in the featured race in the card with Hajoum and Enjoy Dubai, who is having his first run for the stable after moving from Mike de Kock's Blue Stables. However, the Jebel Ali-based trainer Dhruba Selvaratnam's My Verse would be the one to beat on her home track in the Dh90,000, 1,000m Shadwell sprint handicap.
"None of these races are easy to win and good prize money attracts strong fields but if pushed I would say she was the best chance we have on the afternoon," Selvaratnam said of the six-year-old mare by Exceed And Excel.
Mujaazef carried Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid's silks to victory in the race last year, but this time the owner is relying on Hajjaan, trained by Musabah Al Muhairi.
Daragh O'Donohoe takes the ride with Al Muhairi's stable jockey, Wayne Smith, opting for Celtic King.
"They both go well on the track and seem in good form at home so hopefully should be competitive in an open race," Smith said.
[ apassela@thenational.ae ]
UAE rugby season
FIXTURES
West Asia Premiership
Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Knights Eagles
Dubai Tigers v Bahrain
Jebel Ali Dragons v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Division 1
Dubai Sharks v Dubai Hurricanes II
Al Ain Amblers v Dubai Knights Eagles II
Dubai Tigers II v Abu Dhabi Saracens
Jebel Ali Dragons II v Abu Dhabi Harlequins II
Sharjah Wanderers v Dubai Exiles II
LAST SEASON
West Asia Premiership
Winners – Bahrain
Runners-up – Dubai Exiles
UAE Premiership
Winners – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners-up – Jebel Ali Dragons
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners – Dubai Hurricanes
Runners-up – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Conference
Winners – Dubai Tigers
Runners-up – Al Ain Amblers
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Started: 2022
Founders: Hamza Iraqui and Abdessamad Ben Zakour
Based: UAE
Industry: Refurbished electronics
Funds raised so far: $10m
Investors: Flat6Labs, Resonance and various others
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Started: 2023
Based: Miami, US
Founder: Bora Hamamcioglu
Sector: Online veterinary service provider
Investment stage: $1.2 million raised in seed funding
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UAE fixtures
Free admission. All fixtures broadcast live on icc.tv
Tuesday March 15, v PNG at Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Friday March 18, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium
Saturday March 19, v PNG at Dubai International Stadium
Monday March 21, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium
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