Bougedelah claims a thriller in Sharjah
dubai — The best was saved to last at Sharjah on Saturday afternoon when the featured 1700m handicap, the final of six races, produced a thrilling finish with the first three home separated by just two necks. In the end it was Bougedelah who would snatch the spoils close home.
Entering the short Sharjah straight, long time leader Delishess cried enough and was pounced on by Bainoona who led briefly, and Dassan Da who was in front with 200m to run. Gerald Avranche and Bainoona fought back with the pair seemingly about to fight out the finish when Pat Dobbs and Bougedelah, trained by Doug Watson, suddenly appeared on the scene.
Dassan Da and Pat Cosgrave looked to have the race won despite Bainoona’s persistent challenge, only for Dobbs’ mount to dash between the pair and land the prize. A maiden before the race after nine starts, five locally, Bougedelah was having his first start since late November
Pat has given him a great ride and it was nice to see him go past horses and now that he has put his head in front, hopefully he can progress Doug Watson
and Watson explained: “We gelded him six weeks ago after his last run because he has always worked like a decent horse but was not showing it on the track. “Pat has given him a great ride and it was nice to see him go past horses and now that he has put his head in front, hopefully he can progress.”
Fifteen may have gone to post for the opening 1200m handicap but only one ever really mattered with Baariz, previously a maiden after three starts, soon in front, clear at halfway and never in any danger. Representing the Al Asayl team, Tadhg O’Shea, sporting the silks of The President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, never had a moment’s concern posting an easy victory on the Eric Lemartineltrained winner.
The following 1200m maiden was won in determined fashion by Qanoon who was making it third time lucky, after two promising previous outings and providing his trainer Irfan Ellahi a first winner of the season. Off the track since November 2015, when fourth in a 1000m Sharjah maiden, Qanoon returned four weeks ago when filling the same berth in a 1400m maiden on the Abu Dhabi turf and showed the benefit of that outing.
Never far off the pace under Royston Ffrench, sporting the predominantly green silks of Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, he showed a determined attitude when asked, hitting the front inside the final 300m and staying on well. Owner and trainer completed a double courtesy of JAP Yajoud who won a 1700m maiden with Sam Hitchcott in the saddle, on just his second start having run at Al Ain in November. Not for the first time on the card, those racing prominently dominated and Hitchcott drove his mount past long time leader Farrar, halfway up the straight with the pair well clear.
The only Thoroughbred race on the card, a handicap, was also over 1200m, and the spoils went to Green Stables with Antonio Fresu producing Pinter, owned by Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohd Al Maktoum, to lead close home for Erwan Charpy. A winner once in five starts for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby in England, this was the horse’s second career win, achieved on his seventh UAE outing. British Champion Jockey, Silvestre de Sousa, made every post a winning aboard AF Kafu in a 2000m handicap, gradually increasing the tempo throughout the final circuit.