Dubai Race Night » Montpellier

Full field set of Jebel Ali Sprint

PatCummings — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:01:38 +0000

Several Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) contenders could emerge from Friday’s AED 500,000 Jebel Ali Sprint (Listed) over 1,000 meters. 2010 Dubai International Racing Carnival winners #16 SO SHINY and #7 FROSTY SECRET have major claims while DIRC placers #10 MONTPELLIER, #15 ALO PURA, and #6 DOHASA all stand to improve in a wide-open affair. Mike De Kock trainee Frosty Secret has drawn the outer rail over the straight course and was second in this event last year, just behind #9 HAMMADI, who won in his last start over course and distance, but that race was in mid-December.

Click HERE for the Jebel Ali form guide.

War Monger returns in Friday’s Jebel Ali feature

PatCummings — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 10:14:24 +0000

The 8 January meeting at Jebel Ali is headlined by a AED120,000 conditions event over 1,400 meters that drew a field of 12 and will be contested as the third race of the card. War Monger, top-rated at 113, is making his 14th career start, the first that is not on a grass course. The son of War Chant has been off since a lackluster performance in the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) at Santa Anita. A Doug Watson trainee, he is likely being aimed for turf races at the Carnival, while two others from the Watson barn, Barbecue Eddie and Green Coast will also take their spots in the feature.

Green Coast was a strong second in his first start since an unplaced run in the Godolphin Mile (G2). Daragh O’Donohue will be back aboard for the ride after finishing 1.5 lengths behind Montpellier on December 4 at Jebel Ali. Erwan Charpy sends out Commander Cave, hopelessly beaten in a turf try at Abu Dhabi a fortnight back off a 13-month layoff but has three wins from eight starts over synthetic surfaces in the UK. The horse by Tale of the Cat raced in Godolphin blue before the long break. Kevin Shea has the ride.

The first race of the six event meeting is a conditions event for 3-year-olds run over 1,200 meters and has drawn a field of 16. Mike De Kock sends Boss Professor for his career debut along with stablemate Jodi, making her third lifetime start. Both were private purchases from South America and race in the colors of Mohammed Jaber Abdullah. Satish Seemar has a pair of Saudi youngsters making their second lifetime starts, including Exceedingly Fast, second to Bailerus in his debut at Jebel Ali a few weeks back.

Good luck and enjoy Friday’s card at Jebel Ali.

Montpellier leads Al Raihe/Ffrench treble at Jebel Ali

PatCummings — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:40:52 +0000

A 6-year-old gelding by Montjeu, Montpellier upset the featured third race on Friday’s card at Jebel Ali, defeating a balanced field of 14 over 1,200 meters. Off a rating of 88, Montpellier won the open conditions affair, sponsored by Shadwell, by 1.5 lengths over Doug Watson trainees Green Coast and Bounty Quest. The victory was the first half of a treble on the afternoon for trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe and jockey Royston Ffrench, who also took down the top prize in the 100,000AED Al Shafar Group Handicap with Jet Express and the second race of the day with Ab Include.

Montpellier’s victory was his first win since May 2007 when he landed a one mile handicap over the all-weather surface at Kempton Park. He was second beaten a neck in a 70-95 rated handicap on November 13 but faced stiffer competition on Friday and rose to the challenge.