Bin Suroor back at Jebel Ali after 14 years

Saeed Bin Suroor has his first runners at Jebel Ali for 14 years on Friday at the beginning of a new United Arab Emirates season.

It is the first of 62 fixtures, culminating in Dubai World Cup night at Meydan on March 31. The first of ten Dubai World Cup Carnival meetings is at Meydan on January 11.

Godolphin trainer Bin Suroor is represented by Military Parade in the very first race of the season, a handicap over nearly ten furlongs, while he later runs Perfect Sense in a 6f handicap.

Bin Suroor said: “This year we have a few horses suitable for early-season races so we have shipped them to Dubai.

“These two have both run this month in England so are race-fit and have taken the travelling well. They should be very competitive.”

The trainer’s last visit to Jebel Ali yielded a Frankie Dettori-ridden double in February 2003, while Festival Of Light in February 2001 was the last winner at the track to carry the Godolphin blue.

The feature on the opening day of the campaign is a 5f handicap in which the Satish Seemar-trained Satwa Story returns from a 1,007-day absence.

Jockey Richard Mullen said: “We’ve always really liked him. Obviously he’s not been the easiest to train but Satish and his team have done a great job and it’s great to get him back. The stiff five at Jebel Ali, we hope, will suit him.”

2017-18 UAE fixtures

Meydan 20

Abu Dhabi 15

Jebel Ali 11

Al Ain 10

Sharjah 6

Total 62

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