Veteran jockey Pat Dobbs delivered a spectacular performance at Jebel Ali Racecourse on Saturday, securing decisive victories in both feature prep races to reinforce his status as one of the UAE’s most accomplished riders. The Irish horseman, a mainstay of Doug Watson’s championship-winning Red Stables, added two more triumphs to his impressive record in the region.
Dobbs first demonstrated his tactical prowess aboard Arlan in the 2000-meter Tobougg Corner Stakes, executing a perfectly timed run to edge out Elusive Trevor by a head, with Secret Manner finishing a close third. The jockey then partnered with Qatari trainer Hamad Al Jehani to guide David Of Athens to a dominant 2.5-length victory in the Jebel Ali Mile Prep Stakes, comfortably ahead of rivals Saayedd and Kafoo.
With over two decades of experience in the Emirates racing circuit, Dobbs has now accumulated more than 200 victories in the region. His most notable achievement remains his 2017 Godolphin Mile triumph aboard Second Summer, cementing his legacy as one of the UAE’s most consistent performers.
The racing card also featured a strong showing from the combination of champion trainer Bhupat Seemar and jockey Tadhg O’Shea, who secured a double through Omaha Front in the Al Shafar Investment Stakes and Ashwaan in the Commercial Bank Of Dubai Stakes. These victories propelled O’Shea to 21 wins for the season, narrowing the gap to championship leader Silvestre de Sousa (26 wins).
In the trainers’ championship, Seemar remains tied with Ibrahim Al Hadhrami at 23 victories each, while defending champion Musabbeh Al Mheiri stays in contention following No Escape’s success in the JARC Sprint Handicap. With both titles remaining fiercely contested, the UAE racing season appears poised for an exhilarating conclusion over the coming months.