All eyes on Mahfouz as Sharjah gears up for season-ending race

sharjah — Saturday is not only the sixth and final meeting of the Sharjah season, but also the best. It features both the Sharjah Marathon and their biggest race of the campaign, HH The Ruler Of Sharjah Trophy, a 1,700m Prestige race for which 13 have been declared.

That includes last year’s winner Mahfouz, the choice of Tadhg O’Shea. The five-year-old is one of three in the race for the Al Asayl team of The President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan; and Eric Lemartinel. Owner and jockey have actually combined to win the last four renewals of the race, the two most recent saddled by Lemartinel. O’Shea is actually seeking to win the race for the sixth time in seven years.

Tadhg O’Shea said: “Conditions obviously suit Mahfouz and he arrives here after a hard fought victory at Al Ain, so he is in good form but this looks a very hot renewal. The jockey added: “ES Ajeeb, who is owned and trained in Sharjah looks the one to beat but we will have to make sure he is not allowed an uncontested lead this time. Mulhim looked smart winning at Al Ain last week.”

Trained by Ibrahim Aseel, ES Ajeeb was well beaten on his debut over 1,200m at Sharjah before winning a maiden by 19 lengths eight weeks later, over the same course and distance. His only subsequent outing was also a victory on the Abu Dhabi turf in the Listed Arabian Triple Crown R1 over 1,600m. Sam Hitchcott is undefeated on the horse and said: “He should stay the extra distance and we know he handles the Sharjah surface so hopefully he has a lot in his favour and is the one the others have to beat.”

Trained by Helal Al Alawi for Yas Horse Racing Management, the aforementioned Mulhim won a 1,400m Al Ain maiden last week by a staggering 22 lengths, on his debut for the yard. He will again be ridden by Richard Mullen who said: “That was only his second local start last week and it was the first time I had ridden him. He was impressive undoubtedly.”