Harry Bentley moves up in UAE jockeys’ title race in Jebel Ali
After getting his first Dubai Carnival victory on Thursday evening, teenage apprentice rider Harry Bentley went up to third place in the UAE jockeys’ title race with a double on Friday’s meet at Jebel Ali. The race took place on dirt ground.
Bentley last bagged himself a victory at Meydan on Thursday which led to him moving to 13 for his debut UAE season. By winning the opening one mile and one furlong Arab race on MH Al Wadi, Bentley’s position was further moved up to 14.
This win was the third victory for Bentley on MH Al Wadi and helped create a rather stable position for him in the UAE table. He later partnered up with Lord Tiger, a horse who was trained by Bentley’s main UAE employer Satish Seemar to win the seven furlongs
race – a first for both horse and jockey.
Bentley spoke to reporters about his experience in the UAE in general, and the Dubai Carnival in particular. He said he had enjoyed the race and getting a double is the ideal way to win in races like the ones held at the carnival. He said he did feel slightly
homesick as he added that he was rather attached to Gary Moore’s Sussex Yard in Britain.
However, Bentley is also extremely grateful and glad to be working with Seemar and his staff, saying that he had enjoyed the experience.
Friday afternoon’s official meeting was a five furlongs conditions race called the Jebel Ali Spirit Preparation Race. Wayne Smith took part in this race with partner Glorious Gift, who has been under the care of trainer Ahmed Al Shamsi, and reclaimed his
spot as number one in the jockeys’ table by riding Glorious Gift straight to victory.
Although Glorious Gift seemed to be the only runner lagging behind a bit at halfway, the good horse rushed forward in a sudden burst of energy and pulled himself out an amazing two furlongs and from then on, looked determined to be in it to win it. This
was exactly what jockey Smith wanted and what he got was his twenty-second victory of the campaign – exceeding the record of current champion Tadhg O’Shea.
Glorious Gift’s trainer has slowly, but surely, been inching towards the trainers’ title, but reigning champion Rashid Al Raihe refuses to let go of his crown as he moved back to top spot with Five Cents, ridden by Royston Ffrench won the one mile, one furlong
handicap. This victory took Al Raihe’s total successes of the season to 25.
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