The second fixture of the new UAE racing season was staged at Jebel Ali on Saturday, officially featuring a good quality 1200m handicap with the ‘home runner’ Mouheeb scoring most impressively for racecourse patron Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoun and both his new trainer and stable jockey, Michael Costa and Jean Van Overmeire respectively.

The result was not in doubt from about halfway when Mouheeb was ‘cantering’ in behind the leaders before being unleashed about 375m from home. If fit, on his first start for 224 days, he was never going to be caught and he was obviously well prepared as he stayed on strongly.

A 4yo Flatter colt, he won over the same course and distance on debut as a 2yo in December 2020 and won the following year’s Group 3 UAE 2000 Guineas over 1600m at Meydan. Last season was somewhat disappointing though across four starts, after a promising reappearance in fairness, so it was nice for all to see him bounce back.

Costa said: “Obviously it is great to get ‘the monkey off the back’ at the first meeting and it is very pleasing to see this horse bounce back.

“I am elated because I was a bit nervous ahead of today but that was great. Hopefully we can get him to the carnival now and he seems versatile regarding trip.

“I have to be so grateful to His Highness Sheikh Ahmed for this amazing opportunity and it is exciting.”

A slightly lesser 1200m handicap followed and connections were celebrating a rapid course and distance double, this time Van Overmeire probably never headed aboard Yajaarib who was doubling his career tally and making it ‘third time lucky’ in the UAE.

Third on his local debut in January, over this 1200m track and trip, the homebred son of Iffraaj then failed to reproduce that kind of form under similar conditions after which he was gelded. He also scored in the UK, for William Haggas, over 1400m at Thirsk in June 2021.

A 1950m handicap provided Champion Jockey Tadhg O’Shea and the trainers’ title holder, Bhupat Seemar, the perfect opportunity to open their tallies for the new campaign, Tapitution scoring in determined style for HRH Prince Sultan bin Mishal Al Saud.

A 5yo entire, the son of Construction made a winning local debut at Meydan last December before a disappointing effort followed by two good Jebel Ali runs, finishing runner-up both times, over 1800m and then over this 1950m.

The capacity field of 16 were due to face the starter in the opening 1400m maiden but only 13 actually took their chance after three withdrawals at the start whittled down the field.

Whether that really mattered regarding the final result we will never know but Sam Hitchcott delivered Anbar to lead close home to land the spoils in the colours of Al Rashid Stables for Doug Watson.

A 4yo gelded son of Bodemeister, it was a first success at the seventh attempt for Hitchcott’s mount who denied Quality Humor well inside the final 75m.

There was almost a distinct sense of déjà vu 30 minutes later when Hitchcott produced an almost carbon copy winning ride on Boston George for the same connections in a 1400m handicap.

Having raced in midfield throughout the first half of the race, Hitchcott then started to edge closer before unleashing his mount for home entering the final 150m, the pair gaining the initiative close home to deny stable companion Mayaadeen.

Twice a winner on the all-weather at Newcastle in the UK, this was a first local victory, at the ninth attempt, for the 6yo gelded son of Raven’s Pass.

Watson completed a treble in the concluding 1600m handicap Pat Dobbs producing Coast Sky with a perfect late challenge for Sky Racing.