Preview: Gr.1 Jebel Hatta
South African Sun Met Hero Whisky Baron Highlights Jebel Hatta Card
Australian bred but South African owned
Whisky Baron highlights the US$ 300,000 Gr.1 Jebel Hatta. The powerful Gr.1 Sun Met winner was beaten by the South African bred Janoobi in the Gr.2 Zabeel Mile recently. Whisky Baron is named after owner Craig Kieswetter’s father Wayne, who had a share of a malt distillery in Scotland. Craig and his family also own the Highlands Stud in the Western Cape, which stands Antonius Pius, Pathfork and Dynasty (SAf) among others.
Janoobi and Whisky Baron clash again in this race. The Mike de Kock trained son of Silvano was also runner up to Jungle Cat in the Gr.2 Al Fahidi Fort earlier. Royal Ascot hero Benbatl has been unbeaten in his last two races – the Gr. 2 Al Rashidiya and Gr.3 Singspiel Stakes. Based on his performance in the Jebel Hatta, he is aimed at the Gr.1 Dubai Turf.
Incidentally we also see Dubai Millennium Stakes winner
Folkswood in this field. He beat stable mate Leshlaa in the race, who seeks a rematch in this event. Incidentally Folkswood is also aimed at the Gr.1 Dubai Turf which is expected to be contested by the world’s greatest mare. The Godolphin gelding was third in the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2017). The race was won by for the third time Winx. It was a hard contested race in which Humidor almost won. Folkswood was third.
2002 winner Dubai World Cup winner Street Cry colt, Leshlaa has been among the top three in his last three starts. Earnshaw also competes on the Meydan track hoping to best Folkswood, Benbatl and Leshlaa again, as he has been doing in the last few attempts.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum owned gelding Eqtiraan, who has been unspectacular in the past, was second in the recent H H The President Cup competing in the filed which includes Gopi Selvaratnam trained Farraj who was unplaced in the same event.
Promising run was unbeaten in his last two starts, the Gr.2 Balanchine and Gr.2 Cape Verdi. The five year old Hard Spun mare is in fine form to defeat this field of horses.
The race should be most interesting for Turf fans.
