The South African-bred Silvano colt Janoobi put up a fine display in the Group 1 Jebel Hatta over 1800m at Meydan on Saturday, but former Sun Met winner Whisky Baron enjoyed little luck in the same race and did not do his chances of making the Dubai World Cup night cut any good. Later, last year’s SA Derby winner, the Silvano gelding Al Sahem, ran on strongly for fifth in the Group 2 Dubai City Of Gold over 2410m and earlier Neil Bruss had two runners in the Group 3 Burj Nahaar, whom he had brought over from his current base in Saudi Arabia.

Janoobi (JC Photographics)

Janoobi’s only previous attempt at 1800m was in last year’s Grade 1 SA Classic and he was beaten 17,75 lengths after probably going too fast early on. He proved on Saturday he stays the trip and was possibly a touch unlucky. He got a flying start from a middle draw, but Just as he was settling in third place on the flank of the leader he was bumped off course by Folkswood, who had switched outward. Jockey Gerald Mosse on the pacemaker was deemed to be the cause of the incident and was reprimanded for careless riding. Janoobi had to be settled all over again, so it could have been costly because after he had hit the front at the 350m mark he was unable to repel two other horses in a three horse struggle to the line. He finished three-quarters of a length plus a head behind the winner Blair House with Benbatl second. De Kock had been attempting to win a record-equalling fifth Jebel Hatta. Janoobi looks likely to be targeted at the US$5 million Dubai Turf, formerly known as the Dubai Duty Free, on World Cup night over the same 1800m turf course and distance. De Kock has won the Dubai Turf twice with Ipi Tombe in 2003 and with the dead-heating Right Approach in 2004.

The Brett Crawford-trained Whisky Baron was trapped wide in the running from a wide draw and couldn’t go with the leaders in the straight after turning for home on Janoobi’s flank. The way the race panned out did him no favours, but he also looks like he would prefer further, considering his rangy stride. He would probably be better suited to the US$5 million Dubai Sheema Classic over 2410m on World Cup night.

The De Kock-trained Al Sahem put up a fine effort in the City Of Gold, where he came from near the back and was doing his best work late to finish 6,5 lengths behind the classy Charlie Appleby pair Hawkbill and Frontiersman. He might have a chance of making the Sheema Classic field now, although his three runs in Dubai are yet to yield a place.

Neil Bruss has been having a fine season in Saudi Arabia and Bernard Fayd’Herbe travelled over to ride God’s Speed in Burj Nahaar over 1600m on dirt. However, the seven-year-old Oratorio gelding was coming off a Grade 2 win over 2400m and a Grade 1 second-placed over 2000m, so was not surprisingly outpaced. He ran on but was beaten 18,75 lengths. Bruss’s other runner Fantastic Four won a Grade 3 in Saudi Arabia over 1600m in January and started his Dubai campaign with a third place finish in a Group 3 over 1600m on the dirt in February under Fayd’Herbe, albeit 16 lengths behind the winner Heavy Metal. The form was confirmed on Saturday for after showing some early toe he finished more than 20 lengths behind runner up Heavy Metal.

By David Thiselton