Al Zahir punches ticket to Kahayla

abu dhabi — The final card of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club season on Saturday was highlighted by the Dh1million Group 1 Emirates Championship, won emphatically by Al Zahir, over the same 2200m as his HH The President Cup victory on his previous start five weeks ago. Trained by Ali Rashid Al Rayhi for Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, he has now won four of his seven UAE outings, including the 2400m Group 3 Arabian Triple Crown R3 on this card last year.

The retained jockey, Jim Crowley, has been aboard each time and, with the early leaders clearly going too quickly on this occasion, was happy to take his time in about sixth before making a move at the 800m pole. He committed for home soon after and the pair entered the short home straight in splendid isolation and with the race won. Thabit and Abu Alabyad ran on from the rear to take second and third respectively but it was a clear cut success by more than five lengths.

“We were drawn 16 which was a definite concern because you can find yourself in trouble on that first bend, but he is such a classy horse we were able to find a nice position,” Crowley said. “When I asked him to close he did so effortlessly and we know he stays further, so I was more than happy to go for home a long way out. He is a very good horse and I imagine will take his chance in the Kahayla Classic on World Cup night now.”

It was a big race double for connections after earlier Crowley found a very willing partner in the shape of AF Mahshoum in the 2200m UAE Arabian Derby and the pair were never headed, battling gamely to deny Dahham who chased him throughout the final 300m with Al Tiryaq closing to finish a close third.