Mailshot delivers in Meydan Feature

dubai — Racing at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday was highlighted by DP World, UAE Region, a 1600m turf handicap in which the maximum allowed field of 14 went to post. The Dh190,000 event was won in style by Mailshot, who is trained by Salem bin Ghadayer for Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.

Settled well off the pace by Mickael Barzalona as Sam Hitchcott set the early pace on Pillar of Society, Mailshot cruised into contention at the top of the lane, bobbed and weaved through horses and eventually reached the front with about 200m to go. The USbred son of Hard Spun hit the wire a half-length to the good of a game and rallying Musawaat under Adrie De Vries.

Trainer Doug Watson dominated the Mina Rashid, a 2000m dirt handicap, saddling Dehbashi to beat stable companion Grand Argentier, who tried to make all under Tadhg O’Shea. Pat Dobbs was aboard the winner, who stalked until commencing a rally to catch his yard-mate in midstretch.

Dobbs said: “Basically I was happy to take my time, because I wanted something to aim at in the straight, which is exactly what happened. This is not a horse you want to hit the front on too early, but everything panned out perfectly today.”

The trainer went on to complete a double in the Mina Hamriya, a 1600m dirt handicap, in which the admirable eight-year-old Moosir posted his third win of the season and second over course and distance. Ridden by Jim Crowley, riding for his main employer, Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, he was held up just behind the early speed before taking the lead halfway up the straight and grinding out a 1¼-length victory over the Satish Seemar-trained duo of Mazeed and Simple Attack.

“He is such an amazingly versatile horse, be it 1200m, 1440m or this 1600m, it does not seem to matter to him,” Crowley said.