O’Shea bounces back with two wins

sharjah — After returning empty handed at Jebel Ali, UAE Champion Jockey Tadhg O’Shea bounced back with two wins in the second race meeting at the Sharjah Racecourse of the Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club on Saturday.

O’Shea had been booked for all 12 races across the two days at both the venues and he notched two wins at Sharjah, including the headlining contest — the Longines Master Collection, the final race of the evening.

O’Shea piloted the His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan owned Men Alemarat to victory in the contest run over 2000 metres.

It was back-to-back race wins for O’Shea as he had also claimed the previous race, the fifth race on the card, the Government of Sharjah Directorate of Public Works.

O’Shea, the five-time UAE Champion Jockey also had a second place finish, on board Es Deemha, in the Longines Dolce Vita, the second race of the afternoon.

It got his overall total over the weekend to two wins, two second places and a third place, at Jebel Ali and Sharjah.

In what was a thrilling race, the Eric Lemartinel charge Men Alemarat put in a fine effort to win by a Head over Ajjaj, ridden by Ismail Koyuncu.

“He is a young horse and hopefully there is more to come,” said O’Shea. “He ran some good races last season where he took on some top performers,” he added.

It was Men Alemarat’s second appearance at the Sharjah Racecourse after he had finished third with Gerald Avranche on board, in the 1700m Ruler Of Sharjah Trophy, in March this year.

This victory was his third in 10 starts. O’Shea had earlier guided Mh Areeb to a narrow win over Inayat W’Rsan, the ride of Richard Mullen, in the fifth race.

Earlier, racing began at Sharjah with Ya Hala, with Jose Santiago on board, winning the Sharjah Municipality Maiden, the first race of the afternoon.