Golden finish for Silver Galaxy at Jebel Ali Racecourse

Jockey Silvestre De Sousa navigated a crowded field aboard Absolute to win Race 4 at Jebel Ali Racecourse in Dubai. Jeff Topping / The National

JEBEL ALI // The sky could be the limit for Silver Galaxy according to his regular jockey, Silvestre De Sousa, after their emphatic victory in the featured 1,950 metres conditions race at Jebel Ali on Friday.

Third in the Listed Jebel Ali Stakes over the same course and distance at his previous outing, De Sousa’s mount was one of nine denied the chance to win the Group 3 Jebel Ali Mile two weeks ago when the race was postponed.

Now to be run in two weeks time, the Jebel Ali Mile looks the obvious option for the Musabah Al Muhairi-trained Silver Galaxy.

Whether that is the next task, though, De Sousa was uncertain.

“You have to remember this horse is only a four-year old and had not even raced until the end of November,” the Brazilian jockey said.

“He was beaten the first two times but was learning a lot about racing at the same time.

“He then came here to Jebel Ali and won twice before a career best when third in the Jebel Ali Stakes. We were really looking forward to running him in the Jebel Ali Mile two weeks ago but sadly that was postponed.

“I assume that will be his next target in two weeks but, after that, I would seriously consider taking him to Meydan and the Carnival.

“I think he would be a serious performer on turf and he could be tailor made for the Carnival.

“He is an exciting young horse and hopefully a really nice prospect.”

Silver Galaxy was one of three winners on the card for Al Muhairi, who also saddled Absolute Sway to win the 1600m maiden, ridden by De Sousa, before the stable jockey made the wrong choice in the concluding 1200m handicap.

Art Wave, De Sousa’s mount, could finish only seventh in a race won comprehensively by stable companion Sixty Minutes, ridden by Spaniard Oscar Urbina.

“This is a great yard to ride for – we all know that,” Urbina said.

“Fair play to the horse. We were headed but he fought back gallantly. He was brave and delivered a big effort.”

In other results, Dhruba Selvaratnam, who trains on the track for racecourse patron Sheikh Ahmed, combined with stable jockey Oisin Murphy, to land a notable double.

Just out of luck at Meydan on Thursday, when Selvaratnam’s pair Sholaan and Master Of War were denied in a 1,220m turf sprint, the yard showed clear signs of resurgence after a quiet spell by landing the opening 1,600m handicap with Canwinn.

Connections were back in the winner’s enclosure two hours later with Gobooll, successful in the same 1,400m handicap in which he was third last year.

“The horses are really running into a bit of form now as we have seen over the last week,” Murphy said.

“Canwinn has to be one of the most honest and consistent horses in training and really deserved that win.

“Everything fell into place for Gobooll and he won well in a moderate race.”

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