Terrific Challenge shows its credentials

DUBAI // The trainer, Satish Seemar, may have an Al Quoz Sprint contender on his hands after Terrific Challenge wins the Jebel Ali Listed Sprint by a length. A Group Three winner at Nad al Sheba in 2007, Terrific Challenge suffered a number of setbacks in recent years and had not lived up to his previous form. But months of patient nurturing paid off and the eight-year-old, who has had breathing and leg problems proved the strongest finisher under Ted Durcan. There is now a chance Terrific Challenge, rated 95 prior to the race, could go high enough in the ratings to get an invite to a sprint outing on Dubai World Cup day. "We'll have to see what happens and discuss plans with Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed but if he did get in I would be looking at the turf race," said Seemar. "He has had his problems, but that is through no fault of his own and he has done himself proud." Durcan, standing in for suspended jockey, Richard Mullen, timed his run in the five furlong outing to perfection, driving his horse over the line ahead of Ismael Mohammed's Dohasa. Both horses got the better of the Dhruba Selvaratnam-trained Alo Pura, who after putting in all the hard work at the front of the field, was reeled in. "He was really smooth," said Durcan. "There was a lot of speed around us which was a help. Richie [Mullen] told me to just leave him alone because he knows what to do and he did it well." Selvaratnam won the first race with Shemoli while Frankie Dettori, on a rare Jebel Ali outing doubled up with a pair of Mike de Kock runners, Wonder Lawn in the second and Biarritz in the fifth. Wayne Smith the final race with Numair for trainer, Doug Watson.