Tuesday, Mar 19, 2013
Dubai: Jebel Ali Racecourse is all set to end the season with a bang, when it hosts its final race meeting of 2012-2013 on Friday.
A competitive six-race card has been framed for the day when the battle for the UAE Trainer’s title will be fought for between front-runners Ernst Oertel and Musabah Al Muhairi.
Oertel, who trains out of the Al Asayl Stables in Abu Dhabi and has amassed 34 wins this season, goes into the final day’s action with a slender two-win advantage over the Oasis 1 Stables handler, who has a phenomenal record at Jebel Ali having notched 21 winners at the hilly track.
It is against this scenario, that Shadwell return to sponsor the feature race of the afternoon, a 1800m Conditions event, which sees the Al Muhairi-trained Treble Jig bid for a fourth success of the season at course.
The contest is supported by a strong thoroughbred racecard that includes the 1950m Al Sahel Contracting handicap, a 1800m handicap sponsored by Roma Capannella, a long-time partner of Jebel Ali Racecourse, a 1600m Al Shafar Investment handicap, an attractive-looking 1400m handicap sponsored by the British University and a maiden’s event run under Al Habtoor Motor’s name.
Mirza Al Sayegh, Investment Director at Shadwell, underscored the thinking behind stud’s commitment to developing racing at Jebel Ali.
“Ever since racing began at Jebel Ali, Shadwell united with the track to identify new ways to grow racing and to carry forward the momentum that the sport has received from its strong all-round sponsorship,” he told a press conference at the Meena al Salam yesterday.
“Shadwell is developing racing and all activities that support the sport at Jebel Ali Racecourse.
“It has been another successful season and the racecourse has received resounding support from various sponsors, organisations and companies.”
Italy’s Roma Capannelle Racecourse continue their decade-long association with Jebel Ali Racecourse by sponsoring one of the races on a reciprocal basis.
Representative Paulo Benedette said: “We are very pleased to share one day in Dubai and one day in Rome, which is strengthening our friendship year by year.
“We are delighted to be involved in the season finale and look forward to seeing Jebel Ali Racecourse sponsor a Listed Sprint at our race meeting on May 17, the day on which the prestigious Premio Presidente della Repubblica (G1) is held. It sure adds value to the card as we hope our sponsorship on Friday does to the closing day’s races.”
Underlining Al Sahel Contracting Company’s support Ahmad Sabry, FM & Interiors Manager said: “Since its inception in 1976 Al Sahel Contracting has taken a proactive approach towards enhancing public awareness of sport, and resulted in the initiative to be involved in horse racing at Jebel Ali.”
Al Habtoor Motors have been an active support sponsor during the 2012-2013 season and Naseeb Nasser, Senior Marketing Manager at Al Habtoor Motors, said: “This esteemed association has given us a platform to express our appreciation to our customers and our society by strengthening the age-old interest of the Al Habtoor family in the sporting spirit of the nation.”
Al Habtoor is giving away its 10th Mitsubishi Lancer and 10th iPad to lucky winners attending the races.
By Leslie Wilson Jr Racing & Special Features Writer
Gulf News 2013. All rights reserved.
