Ziani, Mailshot land Abu Dhabi feature in style
DUBAI: The best was saved to last at Abu Dhabi on Sunday evening, a six race card highlighted by the finale, a 1600m conditions contest, won in breathtaking fashion by Mailshot who stormed clear passing the 200m pole under Xavier Ziani.
The fixture’s only Thoroughbred race it atracted a capacity field of 14 and the vast majority were in front of Ziani entering the straight when Ziani took aim at a gap on the rail. His mount responded, shooting through and sweeping past rivals, soon hiting the front and staying on strongly.
A 7yo gelded son of Hard Spun, trained by Salem Bin Ghadayer for Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince, he now has eight victories to his name, four in the UAE and two over this 1600m Abu Dhabi course and distance. Ziani said: “This horse loves it here at Abu Dhabi and to be ridden patiently like that. We were lucky that the gap opened on the rail and he really enjoyed running past horses.
“It is the owner’s birthday so it is particularly pleasing to ride him a winner tonight.”
For 4yos only, the opening 1200m maiden was turned into a procession by Sanad, the only one of the dozen runners ever seriously involved. Quickly away, Yas Racing’s homebred 4yo colt was sent straight to the front by Adrie de Vries. They quickened clear early in the short straight and put the race to bed with fully 350m let to run.
Trained in Al Ain by Jean de Roualle, the colt was making a winning local debut on his fourth start, his best effort in his native France achieved when finishing third in the middle of three appearances.
De Vries said: “The trainer was confident and said this horse had a touch of class and I would have to agree because that was impressive.
“I did not have to be hard on him and was just keeping him up to his work in the home straight.”
The versatile and progressive AF Alajaj pulled clear with Ashton Touretes in a 1400m handicap with the remaining 11 well beaten in behind.
The later tried hard but was never geting to AF Alajaj, partnered confidently by Tadhg O’shea for his main employer, Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda and Ernst Oertel who trains most of the owner’s string.
It was a fourth career win from just six starts for the homebred 4yo colt who was third to Ashton
Touretes over 1700m on the dirt at Sharjah on their seasonal debuts, a reversal O’shea was quick to take the blame for.
O’shea said: “I was at fault when he was beaten at Sharjah and he is a very nice horse, certainly Group class. He needs to be ridden as a good horse and I probably hit the front too soon here but certainly did at Sharjah.
“He was a big baby last season but has really grown up and he should have a bright future.”
A second, weaker, 1400m handicap restricted to horses foaled in the UAE, was won in dramatic fashion by Wakeel W’rsan who finished fast and late under Ray Dawson with the pair snatching the prize in the dying strides from AF Alareeq who himself had only just fought his way past early leader AF Nafece.
The winner, saddled by Jaci Wickham for W’rsan Stables, was registering a third career success but one that looked most unlikely as he was still nearer last than first exiting the home turn. However, the 6yo entire horse flew home to add to his previous victories in a 1700m Sharjah maiden last December and, a month later, a 2200m handicap here in the capital.
Dawson, doubling his tally in this his debut UAE season, said: “Jaci said to ride him confidently as she thought he had a good chance and she was right. We were outpaced early on but luckily the gaps opened in the straight and he stayed on very well.”
Salem Al Ketbi then opened his account for the season, with just his seventh runner, saddling seasonal debutante Nadhra to land a 1600m conditions contest for fillies and mares, Richard Mullen performing the steering in the silks of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.