Muraaqib wins Sheikh Zayed Cup Jewel Crown
abu dhabi — The world’s most valuable Purebred Arabian contest, the €1.2million Group 1 Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown 1,600m was the Abu Dhabi highlight and it was awarded to Muraaqib, trained by Francois Rohaut and ridden by Jim Crowley.
RB Burn, who was attempting to defend his crown, passed the post in front, after overcoming a wide draw in 14 under Gerald Avranche. Avranche celebrated, as did trainer Eric Lemartinel before hearing the ominous news of an objection from the connections of the runner-up.
The stewards deliberated, examining the films and hearing evidence from both jockeys before reaching their decision; they reversed the placings, awarding the race to Muraaqib.
Despite a wide draw RB Burn and Avranche were soon able to get on the heels of the leaders and the horse was always travelling strongly.
Swinging for home, they eased into contention, a move mirrored by Jim Crowley aboard Muraaqib and both swept past Shateh at the 200m pole. It was hard to judge who was travelling the strongest but it was Crowley who first asked for maximum effort, his mount threatening to swamp Avranche’s but the response from RB Burn was instant.
A titanic struggle ensued with RB Burn stealing a narrow advantage, one he maintained all the way to the line but, significantly, giving the runner-up quite a bump inside the final 200m. Crowley explained: “We received quite a bump and were continually taken off our racing line from about 200m out. There was interference throughout and if you watch the replay we are carried from close to the rail towards the middle of the track.
“It made a big difference to my challenge and I do believe I was on the best horse on the day. It is not ideal to win any race in the stewards’ room but that is racing.”
The UAE Martyrs Cup, a 1,600m conditions race and the only Thoroughbred contest on the card, was won by Shamaal Nibras, just as it was 12 months ago.
Trained by Doug Watson for EERC, a repeat looked unlikely at halfway when, after a tardy start under Pat Dobbs, also in the saddle last year, he was well adrift of the majority of his 15 rivals.
Up front, Ghaamer and Army Bulletin were helping to set a fierce gallop which ultimately played into the winner’s hands.