Final shot at Jebel Ali

Interpret, ridden by Wayne Smith, winning a race at Mydan. — KT file

Dubai — Nine horses have been confirmed to make the lineup of the 1800m Shadwell TB Rated Conditions, the highlight of the final meeting at the Jebel Ali Racecourse on Friday afternoon.

Heading the weights is the Musabah Al Muhairi-trained Interpret, a course and distance winner last December, to be ridden by Silvestre De Sousa, to face the challenge of Doug Watson’s duo, Shamaal Nibras under Patrick Dobbs and Jeeraan in the hands of Paul Hanagan, as the competition hots up in the three championships of the venue. Musabah Al Muhairi has almost settled the chase for the trainers’ title with 15 winners, four clear of Doug Watson, while De Sousa is showing the way in the jockeys table with 11 winners, two in front of Patrick Dobbs.

In the owners championship, Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, is leading the standings with 10 winners with the patron of the venue Shaikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum one point off the pace.

“Interpret is in good form and should end the season on a winning note,” the Oasis-1 handler Musabah Al Muhairi said. In the second feature of the afternoon, a 1400m TB Rated Conditions also sponsored by Shadwell, Gobol looks good to win it for the home team to make it a treble in a row.

Trained by Dhruba Selvaratnam at the same track, the mount of the British champion jockey Oisin Murphy has won his last two starts over the same distance at the same course and has every chance to complete a treble this time out. Musabah Al Muhairi pair Kanaf (Paul Hanagan) and top weight Mushaaref (Dane O’Neill) will battle for the minor places.

Sholaan is also another hope for the Selvatratnam-Murohy partnership in the colours of Shaikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in the 1200m TB Rated Conditions.

The race starts early in the afternoon with the 1950m Shadwell TB Handicap with a field of eight runners has been declared to battle it out to the wire. Top weight Izaaj would be the one to beat, should the veteran eight-year-old manage to reproduce his strong run when fourth behind Jutlan over the same course and distance last time out.

Canwinn can live up to his name to deliver for the partnership of Selvaratnam and Murphy in the 1800m TB Handicap while the curtains will pulled down by the end of the 1200m TB Rated Conditions final race on the card.