Al Wasl Club Cup, Daaeemm Incentive Stakes headline Jebel Ali Racecourse’s sixth meeting

DUBAI: Jebel Ali Racecourse is set to host the first meeting of 2026 and the sixth of its season on Saturday, with Al Wasl Race Day taking center stage.

Continuing its concept-based racing approach, the racecourse will welcome Al Wasl Club members, blending top-class racing with the club’s rich sporting heritage.

Founded in 1960, Al Wasl club is one of the UAE’s most historic and respected sporting institutions. Deeply rooted in Dubai’s sporting identity, the club boasts a legacy of achievement, most notably in football, where it has claimed multiple UAE Pro League titles, President’s Cups, and domestic honours, establishing itself as a traditional powerhouse.

The Al Wasl Club Cup, a 1000m sprint with a prize purse of Dhs120,000, and the Daaeemm Incentive Stakes, a 1400m handicap worth Dhs100,000, headline a competitive seven-race card programme.

In the Al Wasl Club Cup, all eyes will be on Michael Costa, who saddles Turjman, a young and explosive talent steadily building a strong reputation. The Daaeemm Incentive Stakes features Musabbeh Al Mheiri’s Secret State as the standout, with stablemate Munyah adding depth to the challenge. Don Vaccaro, representing the Antonio Cintra & Julio Olascoaga yard, brings youth and progression, while Olzhakhan, the seasoned campaigner from Doug Watson, completes the key contenders.

"Al Wasl Race Day marks the pinnacle of our sixth race meeting, bringing together the finest horses and top trainers for a truly unforgettable day of competition," said Mohamed Al Ahmed, General Manager of Jebel Ali Racecourse.

"We are proud to host the Al Wasl Club members, blending the excitement of horse racing with the club’s rich sporting heritage. As one of the most prominent and historic clubs in the UAE, Al Wasl has long been a symbol of excellence, tradition, and passion for sport. This event is a celebration not just of racing, but of the legacy and spirit that the club represents, making it a day where sporting excellence and community pride meet on the track," he added.

The action begins with The Porsche Cup, a Purebred Arabian handicap over 1400 metres, restricted to UAE-bred four-year-olds and above, featuring a field of 16 runners.

Fourteen runners are set to clash in the Al Shafar Investment Stakes (Daaeemm Incentive Race), with the spotlight on Abubakar Daud’s Aegean Star, a four-year-old son of Blue Point, Salman Al Sabri’s promising Alnayazek, and the seasoned campaigner Halucinogenie, trained by Salem bin Ghadayer.

The 1200m Sprint Handicap Stakes promises an electrifying showdown as Watson’s Saarim, renowned for consistency and a strong dirt-track record, teams up with jockey Patrick Dobbs for a bold bid at victory. But rivals Barq Al Emarat, trained by Ismail Mohammed, and Al Muzn, guided by Salman Al Sabri, loom as serious contenders, ready to test the pace and force Saarim to fight every inch of the way to the finish.

In the Al Awir Cup, Ahmed Bin Harmash’s Magic Petition, with Connor Beasley in the saddle, heads the line as the top contender. He could face strong challenges from Musabbeh Al Mheiri’s Frostfire and Salem Bin Ghadayer’s Excel Power, making for a competitive battle over Jebel Ali’s demanding 1800m track.

The meeting concludes with the Emirates NBD Cup (Daaeemm Incentive Stakes), a 1600m contest that has attracted a competitive field of 14 runners, promising an exciting finish to the day’s action.

Harmash’s Al Fareeq will aim to continue his solid dirt form with Connor Beasley aboard while Daayyem seeks a breakthrough under Allaia Tiar, hoping to improve on his previous runs.