Shareef Al Halawani, Jebel Ali Racecourse Manager, says the feedback of trainers and jockeys is really motivating.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Doug Watson dominated the opening day of the 2021-22 UAE horse racing season on Friday after clinching victory in four of seven races on the card.

Red Stable put the rest of their rivals in shade with Sam Hitchcott enjoying double and George Buckell and Pat Dobbs winning a race each for Watson’s yard.

Hitchcott even landed the feature race of the afternoon, a 1200m sprint titled Emirates Airline with Ababil who dug deep in the final strides to post victory by a head from Satish Seemar’s Expressionist, the ride of his new first choice rider Tadhg O’Shea.

Watson was expecting an exciting day as he lined up 18 during the course of the Friday afternoon and Exciting Days turned his expectations into reality as he won the opening race, a 1400m maiden, in the hands of Hitchcott. Watson saddled second in Express Route too, ridden by Dobbs, with Salem Bin Ghadayer’s Martial Art taking third in the hands of Royston Ffrench.

Speaking to Gulf Today, Shareef Al Halawani, Jebel Ali Racecourse Manager, expressed delight over the success of the first meeting of the season.

“Thanks for being with us. So happy to see the start of the UAE horse racing season from the Jebel Ali Racecourse. We are trying our best to satisfy owners, trainers and jockeys. Their feedback of trainers and jockeys after the first meeting is really motivating for us as they all were happy with the track.

“I hope we continue supporting horse racing in the UAE which is rated as one of the best countries in the world. And I also hope that our share will give support to the sport to flourish further.

“Jebel Ali has always been the most crowd friendly racetrack. We missed having the crowds here last year. After two week the scene will be different when the fans will be back and we are looking forward to having the stands full of course only after making sure all of the prescribed health and safety protocols are met. We are in talks with Emirates Racing Authority to make the necessary arrangements,” added Halawani.