Jockey Tadhg O’Shea picks Daily Bulletin over Beachy Head for Jebel Ali race

Irish jockey says decision to put faith in Beachy Head's companion at the Grandstand Stables not an easy one

Tadhg O’Shea has opted to ride newcomer Daily Bulletin, instead of Beachy Head, at the Jebel Ali Racecourse on Friday.

Beachy Head won twice over the course and distances under O’Shea, and was successful in the 1,400-metre conditions race 12 months ago under Emirati apprentice Saeed Al Mazrooei.

Yet the Irish jockey has decided to put his faith in Beachy Head's companion at the Grandstand Stables in the featured event of the six-race card on Friday.

“These choices are never easy, but Daily Bulletin is a new horse in the yard and one I really like,” he said about the four year old bay son of Medaglia D’Oroon, who prepares for his local debut.

“He won twice for John Gosden in England but has been off more than a year. So whatever he achieves, he will improve for the run.”

Grandstand Stables trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe has also entered a third runner Mushakis, who will be ridden by owner Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid’s retained jockey Dane O’Neill in the Dh110,000 conditions race for horses rated above 85 run over 1,400 metres.

Apprentice Liam Tarentaal has been booked to ride Beachy Head in only his second ride in the UAE.

“With Liam’s 3kgs claim, Beachy Head should be competitive. We at Grandstand Stables also have Mushaakis in the field, like Beachy Head, proven at Jebel Ali,” O’Shea added.

Al Raihe reckons all his three runners are in with a chance in the 11-runner field.

“Tadhg thinks Daily Bulletin is a nice horse going forward, while Beachy Head and Mushaakis really like it at Jebel Ali,” the Emirati said.

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Sheikh Hamdan has also Azmaam and Shaishee entered in the race, and both trained by Maria Richie.

However, her stable jockey Fernando Jara has elected to ride Richie’s third horse in the race, the Mohammed Khalifa Al Basti-owned Billingsgate.

Gopi Selvaratnam, who trains for the racecourse owner’s patron patron Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid is double handed with Call To War and Gobooll.

Oisin Murphy, who returns as the Jebel Ali Stables jockey, a role he filled three seasons ago, is atop Call To War.

“Both horses are in good form but are going to progress fitness wise,” Selvaratnam said. “Oisin has enjoyed a very good summer and it is nice to have him back in the Jebel Ali fold.”

Salem bin Ghadayer saddled High On Life, a winner over 1200m trip at the course and subsequently contested in the Group 1 Golden Shaheen on the Dubai World Cup night at Meydan Racecourse.

“He has been going well in training and likes Jebel Ali,” Bin Ghadayer said. “Hopefully he should run well.”

Pat Dobbs rides Stunned, a winner over track and trip last December, for the UAE champion trainer Doug Watson.

“We have been very pleased with his preparation and he seems in good form but is going to benefit for the outing,” Watson said.

“Conditions, we know, suit him and he should give a good account of himself in what looks an open race.”