Ejaaby comes up with a blinder to seal victory at Meydan

dubai — Ejaaby came up with a blinder to clinch the al Naboodah Electrical Turf Handicap, the feature race of Saturday’s meeting at the Meydan Racecourse.

The four-year-old from Helmet, broke from Stall 12 and swooped in from the outside before winning by a neck over Satish Seemar’s Ejbaar in the contest run over six furlongs. it was the doug Watsontrained charge’s second victory in eight starts, with both coming under dane O’Neill. Ejaaby’s showing gave O’Neill his second winner on the night after the irishman had come up with Rashed bouresly’s first of two winners with Waqqad in the al Naboodah Group Enterprises — automotive, a 1,400 metres maiden race run on turf.

Seemar, who had a quartet of runners in the 15-horse field, saw Ejbaar and Riflescope, the ride of Richard Mullen, finish second and third respectively. “Since he’s been with doug (Watson), he has improved. He’s a genuine horse and was looking for some company. He’s nice a horse for the future,” said O’Neill.

The last race of the seven-race card saw an identical contest with Mailshot, under Mickael barzalona, bolting from the outside to win the al Naboodah ashok Leyland run over 1,600 metres, the third race run on turf. it gave Salem bin Ghadayer his third victory of the night after barzalona partnered Pirates’ Cove to dominate the al Naboodah Good Year, the first race of the evening, and Xavier Ziani had piloted aslan to victory in the al Naboodah Travel, the penultimate race of the night.

The evening had begun with the ali Rashid al Rayhi-trained Mears winning the al Naboodah Cargo 1900-metre maiden, under Tadhg O’Shea. Mears won by 3.25 lengths over Travis Country, ridden by adrie de Vries. Erwan Charpy’s Cranesbill was third under antonio Fresu.

Meanwhile, Pirate’s Cove, the five-year-old from dubawi, left the rest of the field in his wake as he won the al Naboodah Good Year by 7.25 lengths over alareef, trained by Mike de Kock.

Seemar’s Jabir, the ride of Mullen, had shown the way in the al Naboodah Group Enterprises — automotive before Cozmo Star made a move from the outside under apprentice jockey Liam Tarentaal. but Waqqad surged ahead and won by 2.75 lengths over Cozmo Star, for his maiden win in just his second start.

ahmad bin Harmash’s Centenary diamond, the ride of Connor beasley, finished third on debut.

“i hope to always win and see you all again,” said Rashed bouresly.

“He (Waqqad) is good and he proved himself. He trains on dirt as well. We are thinking of running him in the derby and we hope to win. We might run him in the Guineas trial but i will have to see him first. This horse needs experience when he reaches the derby,” he added.

after coming up second earlier, Tarentaal did one better by getting his first win with Murrayfield in the Harley-davidson Northern Emirates. Trained by bouresly, the five-year-old from bernardini took over from State Law, who had led for most part of the race, with 350 metres left, before triumphing by 3.25 lengths. it was also Murrayfield’s maiden win in nine starts. The 2,000-metre race was battle of the apprentices with Josh Quinn coming outdone by Tarentaal.

james@khaleejtimes.com