Otaared rallied from the back of an 11-horse field to win the Shadwell Farm Conditions by more than three lengths in Friday’s feature at Jebel Ali, triggering the start of a treble for Dhruba Selvaratnam and jockey William Buick. This marks the second win in three seasonal starts at Jebel Ali for the 5-year-old son of Storm Cat, who had been off for 13 months prior to a November win over the same 1,400 meters trip as today. Otaared had been third beaten six lengths in a similar event on December 18 but carried 61.5 kgs that trip. Under Friday’s condition, the now three-time winner was top weighted but toted only 57.5 kgs.
Steadily improving off a pre-seasonal rating of 91, Otaared ran with a 99 today and is likely to move forward as the Carnival approaches. Top rated War Monger, making his first start since October 2008, was eased in tenth, beaten almost 25 lengths in his first start away from the grass. Doug Watson was most likely using this event as a leg stretched for the group placed challenger. Watson’s Green Coast now has two placings from his two starts this season.
Happy Dubai took the Serve.U Facilities Management Maiden to open the card. Trained by Ali Rashid Al Raihe, the 3-year-old Irish-bred son of Indian Ridge was finally a winner after several UK placings over turf. Mubarak bin Shafya’s pair of Marine Spirit and Izaaj were not far behind in second and third, making the opening trifecta a logical result of the only three rated maidens in the race. Mike De Kock was likely disappointed with his sixth and seventh placings from Boss Professor and Jodi, respectively.
Racing continues in the Emirates on Saturday with a seven race card at Sharjah and a six-race go at Abu Dhabi on Sunday.