Doubles for Seemar and Bin Ghadayer
dubai — Racing at Meydan returned on Thursday evening when the official feature among six races, all on dirt, was the Emirates Airline, a 1400m conditions contest for 3-year-olds and won emphatically by Rio Angie, the only filly among the seven runners.
Sam Hitchcott, replacing Pat Dobbs who had suffered a foot injury riding out, sent the daughter of Honor Code straight to the front and even at halfway it was pretty evident they were not going to be caught. The pair scooting clear on the home turn with the race, as a contest, basically over. Owned by Hamid Radan, Rio Angie clearly likes early November having won on her debut, over this 1400m course and distance, almost exactly a year ago. She was then third in the UAE 1000 Guineas over the same track and trip before stepping up to 1600m when she was fourth in the Listed UAE 1000 Guineas itself. That was in late January and this was her first appearance since.
Watson said: “She is a filly we have always really liked and is a big strong sort, so we were happy to take on the colts. She had a minor wind issue last season, so that was operated on and that was very pleasing to see her win like that.
Watson added: “The owner has a big farm in Iran, so imagine she will end up there as a broodmare, so it is great she has won again.”
The opening 1900m maiden, the Emirates Holidays was won comfortably by Lady Snazz, a second winner of the new campaign for Richard Mullen and first for his main employer, Satish Seemar.
A second success to carry the colours of Michael Hilary Burke and Michael James Burke, the only filly in the race, a 4-year- old daughter of Curlin was settled in third by Mullen before making notable ground leaving the back straight. They passed early leader and eventual runner-up, Litecoin just before entering the straight and never looked in any danger thereafter.