Double for Lemartinel and jockey O’Shea

abu dhabi — Having combined for an Abu Dhabi treble last week, Al Asayl-based trainer, Eric Lemartinel and UAE Champion Jockey, Tadhg O’Shea, landed a double at the capital’s track late on Sunday evening.

It was highlighted by the impressive and smooth success of Mahbooba in the Purebred Arabian 2200m His Highness The President Cup Prep, a conditions race, when she was chased home by stable companion, Abu Alabyad, the mount of Gerald Avranche.

Penalised at the weights and one of two mares among the dozen runners, Mahbooba has now suffered just one defeat after six career starts and looks a progressive and exciting young mare for her powerful connections.

“That is a great result for the team and we thought we had a decent chance but knew she had to build on what she had achieved so far,” said O’Shea.”

“And fair play to her, she has done that in good style and appears to be on the up so, with luck, will be a serious contender for the big race itself.”

The trio opened their account for the evening with the hard fought victory of Deyaar who narrowly prevailed in a 2200m conditions stakes, restricted to mares, to record just her second career win, on her 11th career start and making her sixth local outing a winning one.

Fourteen went to post for the opening 1600m conditions contest but very few were ever seen with a realistic chance and Fernand Jara was always prominent aboard Sarab Al Reef.

Trained by Abdallah Al Hammadi, Jara’s mount had won his previous start, in a similar race, back in early December and was able to repeat the trick here. Jara later completed a double when making all on AF Ssyaeb, trained by Musabbeh Al Mheiri, in a 1200m handicap. Twice a winner last season, including over course and distance, he bounced back to winning ways.

They did not go particularly quickly which has helped her utilise her speed and she stayed the trip well enough Tadhg O’Shea