Watson’s Red Stables claims a double
dubai — Mutasayyid emerged the winner of the featured District One Mansions, a 1600m turf handicap, at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday evening giving trainer Doug Watson a double on the card.
Jockey Pat Dobbs was wearing a distinguishing red cap, suggesting he was far from the most fancied of the quintet, but he posted a fairly comfortable success.
Well drawn in four, the jockey was able to get an early lead, saving ground on the fence, before taking the initiative at halfway.
With 500m left to run, he committed for home, soon opening up daylight between themselves and 13 rivals and always looking likely to hold on.
“He likes to race handily and we hit the gates great tonight,” said Dobbs. “He settles nicely for you which makes my job easier and he has appreciated this return to 1600m having run over further the last twice. “He has not had much racing and is hopefully a Dubai World Cup Carnival horse for next year.”
Seven went to post for the Meydan Sobha Trophy, a 2000m dirt handicap, but only one horse ever really mattered with the Watsontrained Active Spirit going straight to the front under Sam Hitchcott and staying there.
Drawn widest of all, Hitchcott rushed his mount from the stalls and straight to the front to establish a lead they would not relinquish, kicking clear fully 900m from home and staying on strongly.
“That is the way this horse likes to be ridden,” said Hitchcott. “He enjoyed himself out in front and responded well when I asked him to increase the pace on the back straight.”
Tadhg O’Shea then employed identical tactics aboard the Ali Rashid Al Rayhi-trained Mutahaddith to land the District One Villas, a 1200m dirt handicap.
Drawn one, they broke sharply and were soon able to gain the lead, utilising their rail draw to save ground with O’Shea kicking for home at the top of the straight.
That left their seven rivals toiling and they never then looked likely to be caught. “We had the perfect draw for those tactics which really suit this horse,” said O’Shea. “We won twice over course and distance last season doing exactly the same thing.”