Pinheiro rides Inthar to glory in Al Ain race
AL AIN: Al Ain’s last meeting of the year on Thursday, highlighted by a 2000m Purebred Arabian handicap which was won in determined fashion by Inthar, something of a surprise winner, driven clear by Bernardo Pinheiro for Khalifa Al Neyadi who both owns and trains the winner.
An 8-year-old entire and thus oldest of the seven runners, Inthar tracked Ashraaf until that rival dropped away quickly with 600m still to run at which point Pinheiro boldly went for home in what, ultimately, probably proved the move that sealed the race. Mukaram tried to throw down a challenge under Pat Cosgrave over the final 400m, but they were never getting to Pinheiro’s mount who was winning for the third time on his 26th outing. His previous was also at Al Ain, in a 1400m handicap in January, having lost his maiden tag over 1200m at Sharjah in October 2016.
Pinheiro explained: “I know this horse well and have ridden him in each of his last five starts, all over shorter trips, but we decided to try a longer distance today and it has suited him. We only had 53kgs, so I was keen to try and utilise the low weight and, luckily, everything worked out perfectly.”
The only Thoroughbred race, also a 2000m handicap, looked wide open on paper, but in reality was turned into a procession by Mears, saddled by Ali Rashid Al Rayhi for Jumas Mubarak Al Junaibi. Drawn wide, the 4-year-old gelded son of Street Cry was settled on the outside in about fourth by Fernando Jara. Stable companion and the same owner’s Cross Step led until about the 600m marker and it was soon after Mears hit the front before scooting clear with 450m still to run and the result never looking in any doubt afterwards.
It was a second career win for Mears, victorious in a 1900m handicap on the dirt surface at Meydan in January and he was making his second Al Ain visit a successful one having chased home Parklife, third on this occasion, over 1800m just over a year ago.
“I have galloped this horse at home in the mornings a few times, but this was the first time I rode him in a race,” Jara said.
“He did everything right today and was always travelling very easily before quickening when I asked him. In fairness, the trainer and whole yard were pretty confident before the race, and his last gallop at home had been a good one.”
The meeting opened with a handicap over 1800m, won in determined fashion by RB Fired Up, trained locally by Helal Al Alawi for Abu Dhabi Racing and confidently ridden by Billy Lee.