The Dubai Kahayla Classic, sponsored by EMAAR, the opening race of the Dubai World Cup night, went to Qatar after the Julian Smart trained Jaafer burst to the front in the final two hundred meters to beat the highly regarded No Risk Al Maury by five lengths. Paris Gagner, the early pacesetter, finished a further length and a quarter in third place.

“To bring a horse from Qatar, because I don’t think it has ever been won by Qatar, is just amazing,” said Julian Smart, who is originally from the Uk and has been training in Qatar since August.

For a long time it didn’t look like Jaafer, partnered by Adrie de Vries, was going to be playing any part in the 2000 meter race run on the All Weather track at Meydan. It was Paris Gagner who took the early lead, followed closely by Theoretically and Palapal while No Risk Al Maury was travelling in fourth position on the rail. Coming into the final turn, they were still tightly packed with Jaafer patiently waiting in the back.

As they turned for home, Palapal was the first to make a move, followed by Richard Hills on No Risk Al Maury who quickly took the lead. With only four hundred meters to the post, it looked like the His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s colours were going to win once more, but Jaafer was cruising on the outside and produced a great turn of foot to get to the front to win easily.

“Jaafer has run only one time in his career on the all-weather at Lingfield in England,” said Julian Smart. “Meydan suits him. We took him to Longchamp but the straight is too long and that doesn’t suit him. This style of running suits him. Adrie rode a great race, real calm. I actually thought he was too far back at one point, but he got him there and won, so what do you say?”

Image by Andrew Watkins

Post race quotes from the Dubai Kahayla Classic, sponsored by Emaar

Adrie de Vries, jockey, Jaafer, winner: “Travelled nicely all the way around there. He was a different class. I was not concerned about being well back in the field early. He really loves the ground. It was my first ride at Meydan and to win at the first night was just amazing.”

Richard Hills, jockey, No Risk Al Maury, 2nd: “He travelled really good like he normally does. The winner won very well. It’s hot today and he’s a bit of a free sweater. In the UAE when it gets hot, those little bits can count when it comes to winning these type of races.”

William Supple, jockey, Paris Gagner, 3rd: “He had a great run up front though I knew was beaten up the straight, he kept sticking on.”

Tadhg O’Shea, jockey, Kandar du Falgas, 4th: “It was a true run race. He had a lovely trip and picked up but was not quite good enough.”

Wigeberto Ramos jockey, Nashwan al Khaldiah, 6th:“I was happy with my position. At the 600 when they started to run, he stayed with them but at the 400 when I asked him, he didn’t give me enough.”

Olivier Peslier, jockey, Theoretically, 11th: “I had a good trip. We were just next to the leaders into the stretch turn and then down the stretch it was just too much for him.

Royston Ffrench, jockey, Palapal, 12th: “He travelled OK early but he was beaten a long way from. He was disappointing today.”

Richard Mullen, jockey, Nesnaas, 13th: “We were never really competitive today.”