adiyat racing plus.com 28 ADIYAT RACING PLUS ISSUE 792 Thursday 6th April 2023 REVIEW/ABU DHABI The final meeting of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club season was highlighted by the 2400m Group 3 Arabian Triple Crown R3, restricted to 4yos and dominated by Helal Alalawi and The National Stables, their RB Kingmaker denying stable companion Joe Star with a smooth success under Antonio Fresu. Having won the 1600m Listed first leg, Fresu’s mount was then third to Joe Star in the 2200m Group Three second round so, trainer and owners have completed a clean sweep of the series, albeit with two different horses. Fresu always looked confident, biding his time behind the leaders before committing for home in the straight, the result never in doubt once they were in front. Fresu said: “I was pretty confident of a big run and he settled much better than the last time. He is growing up with racing and should be a nice horse for the future.” A decent quality 1400m handicap attracted a capacity field of 16 and looked ultra competitive which it proved to be with at least half the field still in contention entering the final 225m. That was the point at which apprentice Qais Al Busaidi grabbed the initiative aboard Barjah with the pair always seemingly holding on thereafter despite a plethora of opponents closing over the final 100m. THIRD WIN FOR BARJAH A 5yo entire, Barjah, owned and trained by Khalifa Al Neyadi, was winning for the third time. A 2200m handicap for horses foaled locally was won narrowly by Taajer, Richard Mullen in the saddle for Al Asayl and Salem Al Ketbi. Mullen sent the 7yo homebred gelding for home with about 225m remaining and they clung on grimly, the pair registering their third success of the season, second over this course and distance. Mullen said: “That was getting close at the end but he has held on well and he has been KINGMAKER MAKES STAR LOOK A REGULAR JOE IN ARABIAN TRIPLE CROWN RB Kingmaker RICHARD MULLEN: HE HAS BEEN A MODEL OF CONSISTENCY ALL SEASON. HE IS JUST A HORSE WITH A BIG HEART WHO ALWAYS WANTS TO PLEASE.
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