O’Shea in sight of all-time UAE record

dubai — Multiple UAE Champion Jockey Tadhg O’Shea inched closer to the all-time UAE record of most wins after piloting Iftitah to a narrow victory in the Mina Hamriya handicap in a non-Dubai World Cup Carnival meeting at the Meydan Racecourse on Saturday night.

The Irishman, who currently leads the Jockeys Championship with 38 wins, guided Iftitah to win by a nose over Gervais, for trainer Satish Seemar. It was O’Shea’s 503rd win, one short of equaling British jockey Richard Hills, who retired in 2012 with 504 wins.

O’Shea faces just a short wait to eclipse that record as he has five rides lined up in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. O’Shea rides Raniah in the Ghantoot Maiden, Af Al Arrafah in the Al Baynunah Maiden, Af Mouthirah in the Group 3 Arabian Triple Crown round 2, Af Makerah in the Wathba Stallions Cup and King’s Shadow in the A Bateen Maiden.

Meanwhile, O’Shea also had two second-place finishes and a third place at Meydan son the night. He finished second with Kaanoon in the DP World UAE Region Handicap, the race won by Rashed Bouresly’s Ajwad.

Another second came O’Shea’s way with him partnering Seemar again to see Ejbaar finish behind race winner Raafid in the Jebel Ali Port Handicap. He finished third in the Jafza Handicap, astride Top Clearance.

Meanwhile, UAE Champion Trainer Doug Watson recorded a treble on the night, while Seemar finished with a double. Watson, eyeing a seventh UAE Champion Trainer title this season, saddled Midnight Sands, Mizbah and Dehbashi to victory in the Mina Rashid Marina Maiden, Hamdan bin Mohammed Cruise Handicap and the Jafza Handicap respectively. Watson also a one-two with Grand Argentier finished second behind Dehbashi.