3 minute read
UAE Champion Jockey, Tadhg O’Shea rode a winning treble at Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club on Sunday evening, landing the featured 2200m Thoroughbred Handicap aboard Carbon Dating in the process.
The feature was the only Thoroughbred race on the card, the third of the season to be held at Abu Dhabi, and it looked a competitive contest on paper.
Zabeel Stables trainer, Satish Seemar saddled five of the 14-strong field and it was from his yard that the winner emerged.
Carbon Dating Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club’s third meeting of the new campaign on Sunday was highlighted by a 2200m handicap, the only Thoroughbred contest on a six race card.
The feature looked competitive on paper with 14 going to post, including five saddled by Satish Seemar and he supplied the winner.
Settled in the middle of the pack, behind a generous-looking pace set by Resonant, Carbon Dating made smooth progress on the home turn before bursting to the front 200m out and landing the spoils in style.
“It is a great result for the owner, Jimmy Long and everyone concerned,” said O’Shea. “In fairness to Jimmy, he thought the horse would win tonight.
“Carbon Dating had a wind operation over the summer and it has really helped him. He won this in style and hopefully he can go on and win again.”
O’Shea was completing a treble but was on the ‘wrong one’ in a 1400m handicap which was dominated by Al Asayl Stables with trainer Eric Lemartinel supplying both the winner and runner up.
Having stalked the early pace and found a seamless split on the rail halfway up the straight, Gerald Avranche enjoyed a fairly comfortable success aboard Eswarah, chased home by stable companion, Al Jazi, who was never able to throw down a serious challenge having been sluggish at the start under O’Shea.
Both of Lemartinel’s charges are owned by HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and for the winner, it was a second career success on her ninth career start.
The first was achieved, just over a year ago, over 1200m on the Sharjah dirt when ridden by O’Shea. And it was O’Shea who was in the saddle, just 30 minutes later when RB Rich Surprise completed a rapid double for both Lemartinel and his main patron, Sheikh Zayed.
Patiently ridden in a 2200m handicap, arguably the best Purebred Arabian on the card, RB Rich Surprise was always going well under the Champion Jockey and, once eased to the front 300m out, was never troubled.
“I could see Tadhg was happy a fair way out,” said Lemartinel. “This is a nice horse who is very versatile as his previous four wins were all on dirt and over shorter.
“He will probably go to Al Ain for his next start as he acts well there and there is a nice race for him early next month.”
O’Shea was in the winner’s circle once again when riding MH Tawag for trainer, Elise Jeanne in a 1600m conditions race. His mount had to produce an ultra game effort having been headed by Djelila Al Mels 300m from home.
MH Tawag dug deep to battle back and reclaim the initiative inside the final 100m and were always holding the renewed effort from that same rival.
The meeting opened with a 1400m conditions race in which Izz Bladi was able to shed her maiden tag, at the fourth attempt, for trainer Ibrahim Al Hadhrami.
Left in front when AF Marrah appeared to hit the running rail early in the straight, Izz Bladi showed signs of inexperience but responded gamely to the urgings of Pat Dobbs with the pair winning comfortably enough in the end.
“She ran very well when third at Jebel Ali last week,” said Al Hadhrami. “Hopefully she is improving and can build on this win.”
The finale was a maiden, over 1600m and produced a dramatic conclusion with Richard Mullen and AF Al Sajanjle registering a thrilling victory on the colt’s debut.
Ahead for the majority of the race, having been fractious in the stalls and needing to pass a veterinary inspection, Mullen’s mount was headed halfway up the straight by Sarab Al Reef.
The race looked over but AF Al Sajanjle fought back gallantly to lead again close home and deny Sarab Al Reef in the final strides.
