Francisco Leandro and Julio Olascoaga Hold Three Strong Chances for Saturday at Jebel Ali

The Uruguayan Donde Firmo, the Brazilian Nam Phrik and Mount Kosciuszko will look to add victories in the UAE, while the Argentine Perfect Love is also entered, albeit with a slimmer chance

Mount Kosciuszko is a key contender in Jebel Ali for the South American duo / ERA

JEBEL ALI, United Arab Emirates (Special for Turf Diario) –Saturday's card at Jebel Ali Racecourse will provide three winning chances for jockey Francisco Leandro and trainer Julio Olascoaga, working in partnership with Antonio Cintra.

With no racing at Meydan, Jebel Ali will host the main local programme of the week, featuring several South American runners. These include the local debut of Uruguayan-bred Donde Firmo (Midshipman), the seasonal return of Brazilian Nam Phrik (Hofburg) and another appearance by the seasoned Mount Kosciuszko (National Defense). Argentine Perfect Love (Heliostatic) is also entered.

Donde Firmo will be the first to go postward, benefiting from a 5 1/2-kilo weight advantage over his rivals, carrying 61 kg against 55 1/2 in the 54th Stakes, a 1400-meter dirt straight allowance contest. Racing for Sky Racing, he brings form from Maroñas, where he broke his maiden in late June before finishing second in the G3 Clásico Ensayo and concluding his campaign with an unplaced effort in the G3 Polla de Potrillos. Drawn in gate 1, the chestnut will face a field of well-bred juveniles, all still maidens, several making their racecourse debuts.

In the Union Day Stakes, a 0–75 handicap over 1950 meters on dirt, Perfect Love will attempt to turn around his recent form after a series of unplaced performances. Now 7, and once among the best colts of his generation in Uruguay, he will be ridden by apprentice Marcelino Rodrigues and is trained locally by Ahmed Al Shemali.

The grey Mount Kosciuszko was one of the main standard-bearers for the Olascoaga–Cintra operation last season and now looks ready to bounce back after reappearing with a fifth-place finish in an 80–100 handicap at Meydan. He lines up next in the Zayed & Rashid Initiative Cup (1800 m, dirt), another handicap, this time rated 75–100, where he is considered among the leading contenders.

Finally, the last of the quartet to compete will be the 4-year-old Nam Phrik, racing for Stud Las Monjitas in the The Ghaf Tree Stakes (1600 m, dirt) under top weight of 62 kg. This will be his first start of the season for a horse who has yet to fully deliver on his early promise. Although dropping slightly in class, he will face a solid and experienced group.