Double delight for Dobbs at Jebel Ali Racecourse

DUBAI: Patrick Dobbs underlined his class with a masterful double at the seventh meeting of Jebel Ali Racecourse, steering David of Athens to victory in the Jebel Ali Mile Prep Stakes before returning to the winner’s enclosure aboard Arlan in the Tobougg Corner Stakes (Jebel Ali Stakes Prep).

Alongside the two feature races, Jebel Ali Racecourse also staged JARC Arts Day, an inspired initiative that seamlessly blended the elegance of art with the excitement of horse racing.

Hamad Al Jehani’s David of Athens under Dobbs delivered a commanding performance in Jebel Ali Mile Prep Stakes, finishing ahead of Michael Costa’s Saayedd and Antonio Cintra & Julio Olascoaga’s Kafoo.

The four-year-old Nyquist colt settled smoothly and travelled with purpose throughout, powering clear in the final furlongs to score victory by over two lengths. Doug Watson’s Arlan landed the Tobougg Corner Stakes (Jebel Ali Stakes Prep), holding off strong challenges from Elusive Trevor and Secret Manner in a tightly contested finish.

With Dobbs in the irons, the American Freedom’s son showed grit and composure to prevail by a narrow less then half-a-length.

Bhupat Seemar’s Elusive Trevor and Secret Manner mounted a strong challenge, pushing Arlan all the way to the finish, but the winner showed resilience to hold his ground and cross the line in first place.

“We hosted JARC Arts Day alongside the seventh meeting of our season. It was a unique celebration blending the worlds of art and horse racing,” said Mohamed Al Ahmed, General Manager of Jebel Ali Racecourse. “Jebel Ali Racecourse collaborated with Maddox, an international gallery group that had recently opened in the region, with a strong presence of artists attending the event. The day was conceived to unite art enthusiasts and racing fans in a shared cultural celebration.

“The concept was about uniting art lovers and racing enthusiasts at one place and this collaboration enriched the race-day experience, transforming it into something truly special for the fans.

“Besides this, the races were boosted by the participation of numerous international runners, adding depth, quality, and a strong competitive edge,” he added.

“Maddox Gallery thoroughly enjoyed the experience at Jebel Ali Racecourse, where the setting provided a calm, considered backdrop that perfectly showcased the art,” said -Matthew Lord, Director, Maddox Gallery.

“The environment allowed each work to be appreciated in its own right, while the elegance and precision of the surroundings mirrored the care and creativity behind every piece. It was a rare opportunity to see art and setting complement each other so seamlessly,” he added.

Earlier, Seemar and 12-time UAE Champion jockey O’Shea captured the double with Omaha Front winning the Al Shafar Investment Stakes – Daaeemm Incentive Race and Ashwaan dominating the Commercial Bank of Dubai Stakes – Daaeemm Incentive Race. Musabbeh Al Mheiri’s No Escape won the JARC Sprint Handicap.

Ahmad Bin Harmash’s Muntasir under Connor Beasley cruised to a comfortable victory in Emirates NBD Cup. Controlling the race from the front and asserting his dominance with ease, Muntasir thwarted every challenge from Sudden Ambush, trained by Salem Bin Ghadayer, crossing the finish line almost seven lengths clear.

AF Marmuq, trained by Ernst Oertel, delivered a commanding performance under Alexandre da Silva in the opening race of the card, The Porsche Cup.