Asyyad takes feature; Ghazayel triumphs
abu dhabi — Over 1600m, the Listed Abu Dhabi Championship was the feature in the capital on Sunday evening and it produced a finish worthy of its billing with Asyyad landing the spoils by a rapidly diminishing nose.
That, however, only tells half the story as Asyyad, representing Al Asayl had led inside the final 100m seemingly about to win easily when sweeping past Goshawke. But the race was far from over.
Both Asyyad and Goshawke were having just their second career start, having finished third on their respective debuts, both over this trip. Goshawke here at Abu Dhabi and Asyaad at Al Ain.
Ridden by Tadhg O’Shea, for Eric Lemartinel and The President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed
Basically, a good horse has helped me get out of a bit of trouble and hopefully he is a nice one for the future Tadhg O’Shea
Al Nahyan, Assyad appeared to think his job was done once in front with Goshawke throwing down a renewed and very determined, challenge. To the naked eye, it was impossible to split them as they flashed across the line. The judge’s verdict went the way of Asyyad. Basically, a good horse has helped me get out of a bit of trouble and hopefully he is a nice one for the future,” O’Shea said.
The meeting opened with the Abu Dhabi Fillies’ Championship, and was followed by the colts’equivalent, both carrying Prestige Status and over 1400m.
Fifteen may have gone to post in the opener but in reality only two were ever realistically involved. AF Sharesah jumped out in front under Antonio Fresu for Champion Owner Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda and trainer Ernst Oertel and was closely tracked by Omani raider Ghazayel.
The most experienced runner in the race, having won three of her five outings in Oman, where her season started in January, as opposed to her rivals, whose racing campaign only began in November, she always looked the likely winner and hit the front 200m out.
Ghazayel was making her turf debut, as they race on dirt back home in Muscat, she soon had matters under control, providing trainer Younis Al Kalbani a winner with his first runner in the UAE and apprentice jockey, Saif Al Balushi, a second victory.
Nabooda, Oertel and Fresu had to settle for second once again, in the Abu Dhabi Colts’ Championship, over the same course and distance but in contrasting circumstances. On this occasion their AF Motaghatres was pretty much in that position throughout. They chased MH Rahal, confidently ridden by Connor Beasley for Elise Jeanne and the race was between themselves for the whole of the straight with Fresu’s mount never really looking likely to peg back the deficit, as was the case when the pair clashed at Sharjah four weeks ago.