O’shea quartet dominates Abu Dhabi meet
ABU DHABI: The Abu Dhabi turf played host to six races on Sunday and UAE champion Jockey Tadhg O’shea landed four consecutive races for a memorable four-timer, including doubles for both Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda and Ernst Oertel.
Owner Royal Cavalry Of Oman and trainer Ibrahim Al Hadhrami were actually completing doubles when O’shea opened his haul in a 2200m handicap aboard Jabalini, half of a pair among the ten runners who ever really seemingly threatened to win.
Ryan Curatolo was allowed to set what appeared a moderate tempo aboard Waadh, stalked by O’shea and, until about 700m out, by Veron aboard Jeemi. Once the last named dropped away it was a duel, one O’shea always looked likely to get the beter of once his mount hit the front with about 350m remaining, despite Waadh rallying gamely for Curatolo. Another homebred, the 6-year-old entire has now won half of his six UAE outings, including three of his five on the Abu Dhabi turf.
O’shea is best known for his association with owner Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda by whom he is retained and they, as is so oten the case, combined to snare the race for horses in private ownership, a 2200m handicap, courtesy of AF Abahe.
Like the vast majority of the Al Nabooda string, the 8-year-old entire is homebred and trained by Ernst Oertel.
They must have been prety happy throughout the majority of the contest because, although nearer last than first throughout the majority of the race, O’shea always looked confident. He edged his mount closer leaving the back straight and, though briefly denied a clear run leaving the home turn, soon found daylight and was always going to catch Fertile Du Croate, denying Ibrahim Aseel a double in the process. Al Nabooda’s horse was registering a fourth career success, but first on turf and over such a long distance. He had previously won thrice on dirt, in consecutive races, between November 2017 and January 2018.
The same connections then combined with AF Makerah in the following 1600m handicap,
O’shea riding a virtual carbon copy of the previous race, setling his mount in rear, making stealthy progress entering the home turn and leading in the final 150m or so.
The main difference was though that this time runner-up Hazeem Al Raed was clearly not in the mood to be denied, fighting back gamely under Antonio Fresu, seeking a double on the night. They batled back in determined fashion, but the head of AF Makerah was in front, narrowly, where it matered.
Another Al Nabooda homebred, the 8-yearold mare was winning for a sixth time, all in Abu Dhabi and now has four course and distance victories to his name.
Not the quickest away on local debutant, the 4-year-old Shamardal gelding having his first start in the colours of Nasir Askar and since joining Satish Seemar, found himself in last. However, O’shea never appeared unfazed, pulling outside rivals to make steady progress before unleashing his winning effort in the final 250m, denying racecourse debutant Waathig.
Raced four times in Britain by Charlie Appleby for Godolphin, he was thrice second, but has now opened his account and should be open to improvement considering his previous appearance, ater which he was gelded, was 376 days ago.
A 1200m handicap looked set to be dominated by Ernst Oertel duo AF Taghzel and AF Majalis with the pair locked in batle throughout the short straight, but just as the later, seeking to remain unbeaten this season ater four starts, fought passed his stable companion, Al Mobher dashed past them both in the final 100m to win going away.
Homebred by The Royal Cavalry of Oman, the 8-year-old entire, confidently ridden by Szczepan Mazur for Ibrahim Al Hadhrami, was winning for the third time, second on the Abu Dhabi turf. However, his previous victory was over 1000m on the dirt at Al Ain, under Mazur, in January 2019.