Bois De Boulogne wins Sheikh Hamdan Cup
SHARJAH: Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club (SERC) staged their penultimate fixture of 2018 on Saturday, highlighted by the only Thoroughbred race, the Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup, in which Bois De Boulogne snatched what had, for much of the race, appeared a most unlikely victory.
Fifteen went to post for the 1700m handicap with the eventual winner slowly away from a wide draw in 13 and stone last when the field set out on their final circuit. Still with only one or two rivals behind him at halfway under Emirati apprentice Saeed Al Mazrooei, the 4-year-old Street Cry colt started to sneak closer on the back straight, but was still only in midfield entering the home turn.
Meanwhile, up front Invincible Strike, who had led from the outset under Richard Mullen for Satish Seemar, had set sail for home and looked the likely winner until Mazrooei produced Bois De Boulogne fast and late to snatch the spoils close home, the pair ultimately winning going away from Mullen’s mount who stayed on gamely for second. Saddled by Sandeep Jadhav for Ahmad Ghalita Almheiri, it was a third career victory for the horse and second in the UAE having landed a handicap over 1800m at Jebel Ali in January.
Mazrooei, having just his sixth mount of the season, was opening his account for the campaign and said: “The yard were quietly confident and we knew he would stay
the trip well, so I was happy to take my time. I knew leaving the back we had a decent chance and he ran on very well in the straight to win well in the end.”
Irfan Ellahi saddled no less than seven of the 16 runners, all owned by Sheikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, in the opening 1200m fillies’ maiden and was able to celebrate victory with the hard fought success of JAP Jazmh, third on her
only previous start, over 1000m at Sharjah, five weeks ago. Royston Ffrench, who rode her on her debut was again in the saddle with the pair tracking AF Taghzel throughout the first 900m before throwing down a determined challenge.
Ffrench’s mount hit the front soon after, but AF Taghzel and Antonio Fresu fought back, closing on the winner in the final 50m, but unable to regain the initiative.