EJAZ WINS AT FIRST 1,000M TEST

The sharp trip was a query, but gun sprinter defies those concerns with a powerful burst

- Michael Lee

Manoel Nunes kept shaking his head and uttering the same word over and over as he led Ejaz back to the winner's circle on July 13 - "unbelievable".

The Brazilian jockey has thrown his leg over a few quick ones in his glittering riding career, but the AlArabiya Stable-owned sprinter was clearly special to him.

While Ejaz might not be in the same league as the Spalato, Stepitup or Infantry whom Nunes has guided to countless Group 1 victories, he still held the Street Boss four-year-old in high esteem.

That opinion would have soared even higher after Ejaz's courageous come-from-behind win at his very first test over 1,000m in the $70,000 Class 3 race.

"It was unbelievable, just unbelievable what he did today. I told Mansoor (Gandhi, Al-Arabiya's owner) the 1,000m might be too sharp for him, especially as we cannot work him that much," said Nunes, alluding to Ejaz's touchand-go career due to a well-documented screw in his right knee.