Homegrown Emirati jockey Ahmed Ajtebi has his first American riding engagements this week when he is booked to partner Godolphin’s Gladiatorus and Buzzword at the 26th Breeders’ Cup Championships in California. 2009 has been a masterful year for the 27 year-old former camel jockey who has climbed the ranks to emerge as a regular rider for the boys in blue.
Ajtebi, left, speaks with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in the Nad Al Sheba walking ring
After earning his first win the UAE in 2004, Ajtebi has neatly progressed through his career, finishing the 2008/2009 UAE racing season seventh in total wins (18), third in total mounts (210), and the runaway leader in mount earnings following his cracking Dubai World Cup meeting (AED 26,360,978, approximately US$7.17 million). Ajtebi landed an improbable double when riding Gladiatorus to a front-running masterpiece in the Dubai Duty Free (G1) then re-upping with Eastern Anthem’s last to first dash in the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1). During the UK flat season, Ajtebi has a strike rate of 17 percent from from 133 mounts in the UK while winning or placing on 30 out of 70 mounts for trainer Saeed bin Suroor.
The San Gabriel Mountains, towering over Santa Anita, just east of Los Angeles, serve as the backdrop for Ajtebi’s newest intended conquest as he is booked to ride Gladiatorus in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) and Buzzword in one of two possible Juvenile races, on the Pro-Ride synthetic or the turf edition of the same race. Either way, the experience should be a thrilling one for the Dubaian jockey having a career year. Following the Cup, it’s back to the Emirates as the 2009/2010 racing season commences.