RACING for 2023 in the UAE kicked off on New Year’s Day with a seven-race card at Jebel Ali.

The feature was the Jebel Ali Mile Prep, and it was totally dominated by the only mare among the eight runners, Down On Da Bayou never seeing a rival under Royston Ffrench and completing doubles for the rider, owner Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum and trainer Salem bin Ghadayer.

The six-year-old daughter of Super Saver will always be remembered for her astonishing success in the 2020 Group 3 UAE Oaks, a contest she won by more than 18 lengths. She did not win again until December 2021, scoring over this Jebel Ali mile, following up over the same course and distance a month later.

The winning rider said: “She is just lovely for a jockey as she is so genuine and tough. She loves to race like that and is then really gutsy when challenged. We all love her.”

For three-year-old, a six-furlong maiden and the first thoroughbred contest of the year proved an easy task for debutant Tiger Nation, always in the firing line under Ffrench and never looking likely be denied once they kicked clear inside the two-furlong marker. A son of Tamarkuz, he cost connections $110,000 in May and clearly has plenty of ability.

Ffrench said: “He has always shown plenty at home but we were drawn on the outside, which is never ideal. He did everything professionally and hopefully he can step up in both class and distance.”

First race

The very first UAE race of 2023 was a six-furlong maiden for purebred Arabians, and Tadhg O’Shea knew he had the race won from about halfway. He sat motionless behind early leader SNF Rayah before allowing AF Al Akhaf to ease to the front two out, with the majority of his 15 rivals beaten.

It was a first success for the six-year-old entire, homebred by Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda and saddled by Ernst Oertel.

Rank outsider Ayaad and Bernardo Pinheiro made a gallant attempt from the front in a six-furlong handicap, only to be denied by O’Shea aboard RRR Racing’s Rayig for Bhupat Seemar.

Always slow to leave the stalls, the seven-year-old son of Exceed And Excel nonetheless was always travelling strongly, and O’Shea look confident he would complete his double.

O’Shea said: “I guess he will come back here in a few weeks as he obviously likes Jebel Ali.” The rider was in the winner’s enclosure for a third time after the concluding near 10-furlong handicap, driving the Ghostzapper six-year-old Ghost Of The Mambo to a hard fought success, completing a treble for the jockey, as well as doubles for Bhupat Seemar and owner Prince Sultan bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz.

Chosen Mark

A seven-furlong handicap went the way of Chosen Mark, an Irish-bred son of The Last Lion partnered by Antonio Fresu in the colours of Shoaib Ahmed Sarfaraz for trainer Ahmed Al Shemaili, a third winner from the trainer’s new base at Grandstand Stables.

Carpe Momentum had a couple of near misses on his resume but finally put his head in front in a mile maiden, Sam Hitchcott riding for Doug Watson in the silks of Prince Sultan bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz.

The six-year-old son of Carpe Diem was opening his account at the fifth attempt.