ES Nahawand wins 1400m race in thrilling finish, treble for Pinheiro
The only Thoroughbred race on the card, a 2000m maiden, was turned into a procession by Miracle Maker, one of four 3-year-olds in a field of 12 and confidently ridden by Xavier Ziani for his main employer, Salem Bin Ghadayer
Racing at Al Ain on Friday, the third meeting already in ‘the Garden City’ this season, featured a 1400m handicap which provided the most exciting finish of the evening with ES Nahawand posting a gutsy success under Fernando Jara.
One of four runners locked in batle at the 200m pole, when AF Tathoor cried enough, Jara’s mount had led as the leaders let the home turn, hassled throughout the straight by Pharitz Oubai. The later may have led briefly with about 180m remaining, and when Opera loomed as a serious challenger. However, ES Nahawand was not for being beaten, fighting grimly to make sure he claimed a fourth career victory and second at Al Ain.
The 8-year-old entire also has a pair of Sharjah victories to his name, on his debut in December 2016 and on his seasonal debut at the end of October. The victory also doubled owner Ahmed Mohd Saif Mushed Al Marar’s tally while trainer Mohd Daggash was completing a brace on the card, from his first two runners, from just three in total on the evening.
Restricted to horses in private ownership, the o pen ing2000m handicap was won comfortably by Dalil De Carrrere, continuing the good weekend for Brazilian jockey Bernardo Pinheiro who also landed the first race at Meydan the previous evening, the Group 2 Bani Yas aboard Jayide Al Boraq.
Riding on this occasion in the silks of Saif Bakheet Saif Murshed Al Marar for trainer Mohamed Daggash, Pinheiro setled his mount just behind the leaders before navigating an inside route on the home turn, saving valuable ground and hiting the front halfway up the straight. The 7-year-old entire shot clear, breaking the track record and doubling his career haul in the process having won a 2000m Al Ain maiden three weeks ago.
An hour later Pinheiro was back in the winner’s enclosure, this time combining with Mahmood Hussain who saddled Pharitz Al Denari to a fairly comfortable victory, a maiden success for owner Yousif Ali Yousuf Alkhaja Al Ali. Third on his sole previous start, just last Saturday over 1000m here at Al Ain, the 4-year-old colt would have scored more comfortably had he not chosen to wander towards the standside rail entering the final 350m. Once straightened by Pinheiro, connections did not have any further worries as the horse finished strongly.
The Brazilian completed a memorable treble in the finale, a 1000m maiden, when probably never headed aboard AF Lewaa, owned and trained by Qaiss Aboud, doubling his tally in both categories in the process.
Quickly away, the 6-year-old, unsuccessful in 11 previous efforts, was gaining a deserved maiden success ater finishing second in a virtually identical race, on his debut for Aboud, last Saturday.
That was actually his first appearance since December 2018 when third in another Al Ain 1000m maiden.
Pinheiro said: “It has been a great two days and I have to thank all the owners and trainers who have given me these chances.”
The only Thoroughbred race on the card was a 2000m maiden was turned into a procession by Miracle Maker, one of four 3-year-olds in the field of 12 and confidently ridden by Xavier Ziani for his main employer, Salem Bin Ghadayer. Having his eighth career start, fith on dirt and all locally, the Paynter colt chased the early speed under a motionless Xiani before sweeping to the front fully 700m from home, skipping clear shortly aterwards and then never in any danger thereater.
Having partnered a first ever UAE winner for owner Faiuz Jamil Al Turkumani, Ziani said: “I rode him first time this season at Jebel Ali and we went to fast. The 1400m was too short last time.
A 1600m maiden for 3-year-olds only atracted the maximum allowed field of 15, but the majority may as well have stayed at home with only a handful of the runners ever really able to get involved.
Continuing the South American rider theme, it was Argentine Jesus Rosales who was celebrating ater producing Oss with a decisive challenge 300m from home, the pair soon hiting the front and crossing the line almost three lengths clear of the field. Patiently ridden by Rosales, who setled him in fith or sixth, the rear of the small group that ever really counted in the race, they made smooth progress before storming clear to record an impressive victory for Abdallah Al Hammadi and his main patron, Al Ajban Stables.