Bochart, ridden by Fernado Jara, races towards the finish line to win the 1600m handicap at Jebel Ali Racecourse on Saturday. Courtesy: ERA

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The penultimate fixture of the Jebel Ali season was officially highlighted by a 1600m handicap and the admirable Bochart returned to winning ways, probably never headed under Fernado Jara in the colours of Al Bait Mutawahed Team for Bhupat Seemar.

A 9yo Dubawi gelding, he was winning for the ninth time, all in the UAE and for a third time at Jebel Ali, his previous course success having been achieved in January 2017. He has won five times at Meydan since, most recently over 1400m last April.

Pat Dobbs and King Of The Nite were convincing winners of a 1400m maiden for Doug Watson and Rockingham Ranch, the 4yo gelding winning at the fifth time of asking but just second since joining the American handler.

With the 16 runners spread across the track, Dobbs was able to track the pace on the far side rail before taking up the running about 400m from home with the race soon in safekeeping.

A capacity field of 16 may have contested a 1400m handicap but Honorable Justice proved far too good under Royston Ffrench, sporting the silks of Faiuz Jamil Al Turkumani fot Salem bin Ghadayer.

Conceding weight to all bar one of his 15 rivals, the 6yo entire son of Majesticperfection was doubling his career tally having previously landed a 1200m handicap, here at Jebel Ali, in December 2020.

Trainer and jockey completed a double in the concluding 1950m maiden, Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum’s First Of November soon in front and in charge throughout the final 450m to make it third time lucky after two Meydan appearances. A 3yo Bernardini colt, he clearly relished this stamina test.

Previously a maiden after 12 starts, Dignity Joy rectified that in style under Antonio Fresu in a 1200m handicap for Musabbeh Al Mheiri in the red and white stripes of Elbashir Salem Elhrari.

A 4yo Kitten’s Joy colt, he did have a second and a third placing on his CV but actually won this relatively comfortably having quickened in style with about 400m left to run.

A second, lesser, 1600m handicap saw Bernardo Pinheiro and Alla Mahlak land the spoils for Rashed Bouresly and the Bouresly Racing Syndicate.

The pair swept to the front entering the final 200m and never looked likely to be denied what was a third career success, all at Jebel Ali. for the 6yo entire son of Kitten’s Joy. His previous two victories were over 1400m, most recently early last January.

The only Purebred Arabian race on the card, the opening 1400m handicap for horses foaled locally, proved a straightforward assignment for AF Kal Noor and Tadhg O’Shea, riding in the colours of his main employer, Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda and the owner’s principal trainer, Ernst Oertel.

Never far away, O’Shea grabbed the initiative just after halfway with his mount soon pulling clear of ten toiling rivals to win easily.