Costa steals show at Jebel Ali Racecourse with stunning treble in season opener

Beneath a blazing sun and the roar of a passionate crowd, the track buzzed with the rhythm of galloping hooves as Jebel Ali Racecourse roared back to life in spectacular fashion on Saturday.

- Amir Naqvi, Sports Editor

Making his intentions clear, resident trainer Michael Costa dazzled with a treble at the first meeting of the Jebel Ali season, while the groundbreaking Daaeemm programme made its debut with three races.

The Daaeemm scheme, a pioneering incentive programme designed to elevate the profile of horse racing in the UAE, was unveiled just days earlier. The first-of-its-kind initiative was launched to inject fresh energy into the sport by enhancing prize money and encouraging broader participation.

Costa's winning run began with the second race, the Al Shafar Investment Stakes (the Daaeemm Incentive Race opener), where Malhouf (USA) delivered a sharp performance under Ray Dawson, narrowly edging out Musabbeh Al Mheiri's Royal correspondent.