Pinheiro guides Ajwad to Zabeel Trophy win
dubai — Ajwad, who was sent straight to the front by Bernardo Pinheiro, left his 15 rivals fat behind to win the 1600m turf race for Zabeel Trophy in the first ever postDubai World Cup meeting at the Meydan racetrack on Friday.
A 6-year-old son of Rock of Gibraltar, Ajwad sports the colours of the Bouresly Racing Syndicate, whose horses are trained by Rashed Bouresly. Pinheiro said: “He is a super horse and definitely a favourite of mine who I have now won on twice from just three efforts and, if Super Saturday was a week later, he would have been third behind Blue Point with a bit more time between races. He had enjoyed a nice break before today(Friday) and I was always confident because I knew I was travelling strongly. This is a (Dubai World Cup) Carnival horse for next year.”
The main support race, a 1200m turf handicap, produced a dramatic finish with opinion divided as to whom had prevailed when Rocket Power and Riflescope flashed past the line together. The judge’s verdict went to the former who appeared to hit the front, in the centre, 250m out and was just able to hold the late challenge, towards the nearside rail, of Riflescope who failed by a short-head. Trained by Ahmad bin Harmash for Mohd Khalifa Al Basti, the 6-year-old gelded son of Kyllachy has enjoyed a prolific campaign and was registering his fifth victory of the season, ridden by Connor Beasley on each occasion.
“He has just been brilliant this season and all credit to both the horse and the yard because he has been on the go since the start of November and had already run ten times before tonight,” Beasley said. “He was a 1200m winner at Jebel Ali last year and has plenty of speed. Once we hit the front, I knew he would run all the way to the line, as he stays further.”
The Jafza, a 2000m turf maiden, is a race that owner Adnan Khan will never forget after his predominantly green colours were carried to victory for the very first time, with just his fifth starter, when Dolmen landed the spoils under Richard Mullen for Satish Seemar. A 4-year-old gelded son of Dawn Approach and halfbrother to Group 1 winner Odeliz, he was unraced before February before showing promise on three dirt outings, especially on his previous run when third over 1800m at Jebel Ali. However, the switch to turf, as you would expect as a son of Dawn Approach, suited. Having been settled in midfield, he made smooth progress to lead 200m out and was never going to be caught.