A quintet of Ahmed bin Rashid’s horses at the opening of the Jebel Ali racing season

The opening race of the Jebel Ali Racecourse season in its 33rd edition witnessed clear brilliance for the horses owned by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, by achieving five championships out of the seven rounds of the race that took place today, Saturday, and their total prizes amounted to 496 thousand dirhams, and their titles were competed for. 57 of the finest local and international horses.
The racing activities witnessed the presence of the Director General of the Office of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Director of His Highness’s Races, and a member of the Board of Directors and Director General of the Emirates Horse Racing Authority, Engineer Mohammed Al Shehhi, along with the Director of Jebel Ali Racecourse Mohammed Al Ahmad, and a large number of owners and trainers.
The most notable results came in the fifth and main heat, which was allocated to horses in the “equal” category over a distance of 1,600 metres, and was held under the sponsorship of “Shadwell”, when the horse “Sayed”, owned by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, under the supervision of trainer Michael Costa, and led by jockey James Orman, was able to Achieving victory, crossing the finish line in a time of 1 minute, 37 seconds and 27 hundredths of a second, with a large difference of four lengths from the second-placed horse “Flying Hunter” with the Sultan Ali logo, under the supervision of trainer Ahmed bin Harmash, and led by the jockey Saif Al Balushi.
The ceremony began with the “Al Wathba Stallions Cup” race, which was allocated to purebred Arabian horses, and witnessed the horse “Octave” for Al Ajban Stables, led by jockey Daniel Tudhope, and under the supervision of trainer Abdullah Al Hammadi, winning the title of the race that extended for a distance of 1,200 metres.

The second half witnessed the participation of 8 horses, competing in a 1,000-meter speed race designated for beginner horses, sponsored by Al Shafar Investment, and the victory went to “Yatadis,” owned by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, under the supervision of coach Michael Costa and led by jockey James Orman.
The horses of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, under the supervision of trainer Michael Costa, continued to impose their influence, after they achieved with the colt “Nahash” the title of speed championship, which ran for a distance of 1,000 meters in the third half of the “Commercial Bank of Dubai Stakes”, before his stablemate could. “Thouban” won the title of the fourth round, “Sprint Handicap Stakes,” which was allocated to horses in the “Parity” category.
The horse “Qasid” added the fifth victory, by winning the title of the sixth race reserved for beginner horses over a distance of 1600 metres.
The ceremony concluded with the “Al Sufouh Stakes” race for beginner horses over a distance of 1,800 metres, and the victory went to the horse “Mount Koschko”, owned by “Sky Racing”, under the supervision of trainer Julio Olascuaga, and led by jockey Silvestre de Sousa.
Engineer Mohammed Saeed Al Shehhi expressed their happiness with the large public attendance in the first race of the season at Jebel Ali Racecourse, pointing out that the start of the equestrian season heralded a strong competitive season and significant public attendance and follow-up through the races that started at the Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Al Ain racetracks.
Al Shehhi confirmed that all arrangements at all tracks went well, which contributed to the completion of the aesthetic painting of the races. He said that their keenness and interest stemmed primarily from the directives of Their Highnesses the Sheikhs to provide all means of comfort to the public.
Mohammed Al-Ahmad, Director of Jebel Ali Racecourse, expressed his great happiness at the start of the racing season, noting that the family racetrack succeeded in producing the opening race of the season in an impressive manner, which won the admiration of its fans, who have always been keen to follow the races.
Al-Ahmad continued: “The track management is sparing no effort to continuously develop the track, and as part of its plan to develop the facilities inside the track, the committee has built and implemented two saddlery arenas next to the main platform, and this idea has demonstrated its excellence since the first race, as attendees were able to watch and follow “Saddled and displayed horses throughout the rounds, which was well-received by the audience and those present, which confirms the good implementation of this step, in an effort to reach the highest levels of organization and achieve more successes.”