Ghaaleb to extend Costa's lead

Jebel Ali-based Australian trainer Michael Costa has begun the new season in the UAE in terrific style and has already saddled eight winners.

- Ed Marnane

He will take plenty of stopping in his pursuit of a first trainer's title since arriving in the Emirates two years ago.

Costa has a strong team in action at Jebel Ali's second fixture of the campaign tomorrow, with five runners across four of the seven races.

In Race 2, Ghaaleb can kick-start a good afternoon for owner Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum and Costa by winning the opening maiden, over 1200m for older horses. Bred in New Zealand, Ghaaleb ran to a decent level in maiden company last season. Arguably the pick of his four starts was at Jebel Ali in December when a close second to stable companion Ajdayet, the Costa pair pulling well clear of their eight rivals.

In a race that will not take much winning this looks a good opportunity for Ghaaleb to open his account at the fifth time of asking and give stable jockey Ben Coen his first winner at Jebel Ali this season.

Race 4 is the feature, the first leg of the Emirates Sprint Series, and has drawn a field of 12 sprinters, five trained by Kuwaiti Rashed Bouresly.

Of the quintet, course specialist Shanghai City makes most appeal. Winner of a handicap over the course and distance in January, he is capable of being in the mix, despite obvious fitness concerns on the back of a lengthy break.