ISSUE 823 7th December 2023 SEE PAGES 10-13 SEE PAGE 20-21 SEE PAGE 16-18 DESTINATION DUBAI FOR IMPRESSIVE LEMON POP CAN SIXTY LEAVE THE VALLEY HAPPY? AHMAD BIDS TO FOLLOW UP FIRST LEG WIN MA GIC ? DRC PICK 7 FORM INSIDE ABU DHABI ACE ABBES SIMPLY TOO GOOD FOR JEWEL CROWN RIVALS BIN HARMASH RELIES ON AS MEYDAN HOSTS LEG TWO OF THE EMIRATES SPRINT SERIES
To book a nomination, contact Will Wright: +44 (0)7787 422901 | [email protected] | Discover more about the Shadwell stallion roster on our website shadwellstud.com THE HIGHEST-RATED TURF HORSE IN THE WORLD FOR A DECADE The best on turf since Frankel OFFICIAL RATING: 135 6 brilliant Group 1 victories World Champion turf horse and miler in 2022 CHAMPION OF THE TURF A star-studded debut book, supported by many of the world’s leading breeders AN EXCEPTIONAL FIRST BOOK OF MARES
FROM THE EDITOR adiyat racing plus.com 3 ADIYAT RACING PLUS ISSUE 823 Thursday 7th December 2023 — TIME TO ACT IS NOW IF WE WANT TO LEAVE A RICH LEGACY The global spotlight was well and truly focused on Dubai this week as the world’s leaders, along with royalty, met once again to tackle the subject of Climate Change head on. COP, or the Conference of the Parties, for those not familiar with the anacronym, is the main decisionmaking body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or UNFCCC if you do prefer anacronyms! In short, COPs serve as the formal meeting place each year for the Parties to negotiate and agree on how to tackle climate change, reduce emissions and limit global warming. Some feel global warming is a fallacy and the dramatic changes in our climate are unpreventable with the current shift in the earth’s temperature simply a repeat of the global climate changing periodically as it has done through its history. That of course may be true, however the current warming is happening at a rate not seen in the past 10,000 years, with the world facing hotter temperatures, more severe storms, increased drought and warming, rising oceans. Given those stark and disturbing statistics, is it really an option to do nothing? Leaving a legacy and prosperous future for the younger members of our society ZOV\SK IL HU HIZVS\[L JVTTP[TLU[ MYVT [OVZL [OH[ JHU PUÅ\LUJL Z\JO TH[[LYZ Few have tried to protect and empower the young and vulnerable in society like Britain’s King Charles III who was invited to the Emirates by the hosts to give a keynote address at the beginning of the summit. Through his Prince’s Trust initiative, King Charles supports 11-to-30-year-olds who are unemployed or struggling at school and at risk of exclusion through a range of training programmes [V I\PSK `V\UN WLVWSL Z JVUÄKLUJL HUK TV[P]H[PVU 0U WYL]PV\Z WPLJLZ 0 OH]L [V\JOLK VU [OL ULLK [V engage the younger members of society in our equine pastimes - be it showjumping, horseracing, polo or endurance – either as participants, enthusiastic attendees or indeed as employees in various roles within the equine industry. Their energy, drive and ambition are crucial to the longevity of sports such as horse racing which must strive to regenerate and evolve to remain relevant. Thankfully, racing in the UAE caters well for the younger racegoer, with junior attendance thriving and many young faces enjoying the sport, you only need to see our weekly two-page picture spread to LUKVYZL [OH[ ]PL^ 0 ^P[ULZZLK [OPZ ÄYZ[OHUK V]LY [OL ^LLRLUK ^P[O [YPWZ [V 1LILS (SP HUK (I\ +OHIP HZ both well attended venues celebrated the 52nd National Day with pride and passion. The latter played OVZ[ [V H JYHJRPUN YLUL^HS VM [OL :OLPRO AH`LK IPU :\S[HU (S 5HO`HU 1L^LS *YV^U ^VU PU Z[`SL I` Abbes (full review on pages 34-37), under the lights at the well-appointed Equestrian Club. 6\Y T\JO SV]LK ZWVY[ MLS[ PU H NVVK WSHJL HZ [OL TLL[PUNZ IVHZ[LK Z[YVUN ÄLSKZ M\SS` LUNHNLK JYV^KZ and a vibrant atmosphere. As King Charles correctly outlines, it is our responsibility to ensure that those youngsters having their faces painted and eagerly tucking into popcorn and ice creams can do so as parents in their own right in years to come, with their own children enjoying a night at the races, safe in the knowledge their leaders have acted expediently to safeguard their future. —Sam Turner English Editor
adiyat racing plus.com 4 ADIYAT RACING PLUS ISSUE 823 Thursday 7th December 2023 The second leg of the Emirates Sprint Series, the Garhoud Sprint, is the headline act on a bumper card of racing at Dubai’s iconic Meydan Racecourse on Friday night. HONG KONG 20-21 Will there be more happy times for Golden Sixty at the Valley? THE BIG READ 22-27 Fit-again Mullen eyeing the future after first win since accident. COVER MAGICAL TIMES Ahmad bin Harmash fields a supersub for Listed Sprint Leaders must act now. LETTER FROM THE EDITOR 3 COVER PHOTO: ABDULLAH KHALIFA
adiyat racing plus.com 5 ADIYAT RACING PLUS ISSUE 823 Thursday 7th December 2023 Abu Dhabi Review 34-37 Abbes simply irresistable on biggest racing night in capital. Godolphin News 15-18 Japan’s high-class dirt horse Lemon Pop could be Gulf bound after another impressive victory at home on Sunday. AL AIN REVIEWS 28-29 JEBEL ALI REVIEW 30-32 EYECATCHERS 33 ENDURANCE 38-41 SHOWJUMPING 43-44 COLUMNS 46-54 LAST WORD 57 MANAGING EDITOR Taha A Taha ENGLISH EDITOR Sam Turner ASSISTANT EDITOR Duane Fonseca WRITERS Mohammed Omer Khuzaima Al Habeeb Mehiar Elmahi Thamer Abdalla ART DIRECTOR Mohammad Juma DESIGNERS Nadim Ahmed Arif Ahmed Alzarooni Nisar Shaikh Navas Muhammed CREATIVE DIRECTOR Abdulla Khalifa Eng. Mohamed Maher Ismail KV Taha Omar LIBRARY & PHOTOGRAPHERS Ali Juma ADVERTISING/MARKETING [email protected] WEBSITE Osama Shousha PRODUCTION Ashraf Ali Gamal Fouda For editorial, contact: [email protected] MEYDAN PREVIEW 10-13 Some of the best Purebred Arabians set for Madjani Stakes battle as quality sprinters line up in Garhoud.
Meydan Racecourse. LIVE THE THRILL Join us for an exciting night of horse racing! Experience the atmosphere of thrilling sport with exceptional dining. Come and be a part of the excitement from AED 65 only! Hospitality packages start from AED 295. Book now or call +971 4 327 2110 dubairacingclub.com 10 Nov - 8 Mar DUBAI RACING CARNIVAL
RECOGNITION adiyat racing plus.com 7 ADIYAT RACING PLUS ISSUE 823 Thursday 7th December 2023 Dubai Racing Club has received the ‘Great Place to Work®’ certification, becoming the first horse racing organisation to receive the accolade for a second consecutive year. Following a survey of staff, Dubai Racing Club were awarded for the first time last August, becoming the first equine-related entity to receive the certification. In 2022, the award was also awarded to Dubai Equestrian Club and Zabeel Feed, which fall under the same administrative umbrella, and this year is no different with all three organisations receiving the award yet again. Major General Dr. Mohammed Essa Al Adhab, the Executive Director of Dubai Racing Club and Dubai Equestrian Club, was thrilled to have received news and said the achievement is significant as it bears testimony to the constant efforts and investment being put in by the management to ensure staff-welfare is at the forefront of the agendas of the organisations. “We at Dubai Racing Club and Dubai Equestrian Club are happy to have been issued with the ‘Great Place to Work®’ certification for the second straight year. We believe our team members are our greatest asset and therefore we are always looking to develop these assets and invest in people with the best knowledge, experience and ways of working and I think the certificate is testimony to the fact we believe in developing human resources and will continue to go down this path,” Dr Al Adhab said. “The achievement is credited to the directives of DRC and DEC Chairman Sheikh Rashed bin Dalmook Al Maktoum. Our senior management has always been keen to make our facilities a great workplace, where people of all backgrounds feel welcomed and valued, especially as clubs are characterised by a mixed, yet harmonious work environment involving different nationalities.” “I take this opportunity to thank you for your DRC, DEC, ZABEEL FEED WIN ‘GREAT PLACE TO WORK®’ FOR SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR feedback which has helped our organisations to be certified as a great place to work. We value your confidence in our organisations and shall work towards a better future with a focus on improving the employee experience, always one of our top priorities.” Nishad Khan, Head of Human Resources for Dubai Racing Club, added: “Great Place to Work certification for the second year marks a significant milestone for all of us at the Dubai Racing Club, Dubai Equestrian Club and Zabeel Feedmill as we celebrate not just our accomplishments on the track, but also a remarkable achievement off the track. This award is not just a testament to the speed of our horses but a reflection of the strength of our team. It underscores the dedication, passion, and collaborative spirit that each and every one of us brings to our organisation. Being a Great Place to Work certified organisation we are committed to foster a culture of inclusivity, respect, and continuous improvement. Our success in achieving this accolade is a reflection of the exceptional people who make up the Dubai Racing Club family.” Major General Dr Mohammed Essa Al Adhab, Executive Director of DRC NISHAD KHAN: IT UNDERSCORES THE DEDICATION, PASSION, AND COLLABORATIVE SPIRIT THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US BRINGS TO OUR ORGANISATION.
RECOGNITION adiyat racing plus.com 8 ADIYAT RACING PLUS ISSUE 823 Thursday 7th December 2023 The Emirates Racing Authority (ERA), the body governing flat-racing in the United Arab Emirates, has received the ‘Great Place to Work®’ certification for the very first time this year. Following a survey of staff, the ERA was awarded the certification, making it one of the few equestrian organisations, alongside Dubai Racing Club and Dubai Equestrian Club, dual winners of the prestigious certification, having been certified in 2022 as well, to receive the award. The ERA administers all aspects of the sport, including the implementation and application of the UAE Rules of Racing through its Stewarding and Veterinary Departments. This includes the licensing of all trainers, jockeys, officials and stable personnel. Furthermore, the ERA Registry Office manages and processes the registration of horses for racing, and all entries and declarations for all race meetings in the UAE. The ERA also oversees the internationallyapproved Emirates Thoroughbred Stud Book. Engineer Mohammad Saeed Al Shehhi, the General Manager of Emirates Racing Authority, was thrilled to have received news of the certification and said the achievement is significant as it bears testimony to the constant efforts and investments being put in by the management to ensure staffwelfare is at the forefront of the agendas of the organisations. “We have been awarded the Great Place to Work certificate and I think it’s a great testimony to the hard work and the great work the team has been doing,” Al Shehhi said. “I am a small part of the team and I truly appreciate every single member of the team. It is a very diverse team and everyone brings in a different range of experience. IT’S OFFICIAL! EMIRATES RACING AUTHORITY IS A ‘GREAT PLACE TO WORK®’ SERVICE COMES FIRST “We have a lot of young Emiratis who are up and coming and a lot of people who are leaders in their field and we have created a great atmosphere and environment that is built upon teamwork, trust and serving the industry. We look at ourselves not as an authority, but as a service provider who enjoys servicing the racing industry and the equestrian community. I would like to thank the Human Resources department at Dubai Racing Club for their continuous support and all the support functions they have given us and for giving us a great place to work, which has helped us achieve this certification.” From start-ups to the world’s largest multinational companies, Great Place to Work® acknowledges the best in workplace culture. It recognises companies of all sizes and in all industries and offers the only programme that recognises workplaces in more than 60 countries. Partnering with leading media publishers around the world, it helps brands gain the best international exposure. Mohammad Saeed Al Shehhi MOHAMMAD SAEED AL SHEHHI: I AM A SMALL PART OF THE TEAM AND I TRULY APPRECIATE EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF THE TEAM. IT IS A VERY DIVERSE TEAM AND EVERYONE BRINGS IN A DIFFERENT RANGE OF EXPERIENCE.
What we build today will achieve the promise of a better tomorrow. nakheel.com
PREVIEW / MEYDAN adiyat racing plus.com 10 ADIYAT RACING PLUS ISSUE 823 Thursday 7 th December 2023 By Duane Fonseca The bonus associated with winning at least two legs of the recently-assembled Emirates Sprint Series (ESS) has put an even stronger focus on this year’s Listed Garhoud Sprint, the feature event on Friday’s card at Meydan Racecourse. The 1200m sprint on dirt has been instituted as the second of three legs of the ESS, with no chance of the AED250,000 bonus reserved for the winner of at least two legs being scooped up after Ahmad bin Harmash’s decision to withdraw Eastern World, winner of the HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup (1200m, Conditions), the opening leg of the ESS two weeks ago at Sharjah, from the list of entries. That leaves the door open for a new name to emerge as a possible prospect for the bonus. Eastern World might be benched, but his trainer is not and has instead fielded Magic Petition (Connor Beasley), a former course and distance winner who was runner-up behind Leading Spirit on his seasonal bow four weeks ago. A three-year-old son of Good Magic, Bin Harmash’s charge was gelded during the off season after his dismal ninth behind Sound Money in the Group 3 Mahab Al Shimaal and the procedure seems to have done him a world of good as was evidenced during his campaign-opening run. That day he was among the first to be put on the bridle before maintaining a strong pace all the way to the finish to keep up the pressure on Leading Spirit, who he would finish runnerup to by a neck. NEEDS LITTLEIMPROVEMENT A measure of improvement from that display and he should be able to avenge that defeat here as Leading Spirit heads a trio being saddled by Bhupat Seemar, whose operation has dominated the dirt sprint division at Meydan for decades. Zabeel Stables’ fine record gains a massive boost with Leading Spirit (Pat Cosgrave) looking to frank his course and distance form on this step up in class. The seven-year-old Exceed And Excel gelding has won three of his last five starts, including when outclassing the consistent Bilhayl over his far more demanding Jebel Ali strip in a 1000m affair in February. ZABEEL STABLES’ FINE SPRINT RECORD AT MEYDAN HAS BEEN BOOSTED BY LEADING SPIRIT, WHO WILL LOOK TO FRANK HIS COURSE AND DISTANCE FORM ON THIS STEP UP IN CLASS. MAGIC PETITION POISED TO PROVE AN EMIRATES SPRINT SERIES SUPERSUB Magic Petition
PREVIEW / MEYDAN adiyat racing plus.com 11 ADIYAT RACING PLUS ISSUE 823 Thursday 7 th December 2023 SELECTIONS THREE IN ALL FOR SEEMAR Fourth in the second leg of the ESS last term behind Road Bloc, Leading Spirit looked a class act, but even Seemar knows he will have to step up a few notches to make it twoin-two and enter bonus contention. Seemar also saddles Freedom Fighter, the pick of Zabeel’s first choice rider Tadhg O’Shea, who is yet to break free from the shackles of defeat and was last seen finishing seventh of nine in the Group 3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint in February. Seemar’s third entrant is the once prominent British mile handicapper, Bay Of Honour (James Doyle), who joined Zabeel in September, but pulled up on his first start for his new yard in a 1400m affair at Jebel Ali. Miqyaas (Oscar Chavez) proved he could be more useful on turf than dirt last season and trainer Rashed Bouresly might quite clearly want this to be a lung opener with the turf track set to open soon. The eight-year-old Oasis Dream gelding boasts a win and a runners-up finish in two course and ` starts and a win at Sharjah last term initiated a three win run that ended with victory in the Group 2 Blue Point Sprint on turf in a field that, in all honestly, lacked real quality. Miqyaas would be found out soon afterwards when dropped in class against potent rivals in the Group 3 Nad Al Sheba Sprint and could Race 1: RB Rich Lyke Me Race 2: Nevershow Weakness Race 3: Branwell Race 4: Nezeeh Race 5: Tahdeed Race 6: Freedom Fighter Race 7: Alhzeem (NAP) Race 8: Wild Hurricane Race 9: Hyde Park Freedom Fighter Miqyaas Leading Spiri Bay Of Honour
PREVIEW / MEYDAN adiyat racing plus.com 12 ADIYAT RACING PLUS ISSUE 823 Thursday 7 th December 2023 only manage second. Silent Speech (Salem bin Ghadayer/Royston Ffrench), winner of the 1200m Dubai Trophy in January last year and a short head second on his next assignment over course and distance, is also part of the field alongside in-form trainer Michael Costa’s Saleymm, a former Simon and Ed Crisford trainee, who makes his UAE debut. A five-year-old Dubawi gelding, Saleymm was last seen finishing a distant runner-up to Sacred in the Listed Dubai Duty Free Cup at Newbury last September. ALHZEEM LOOKING TO STRIKE The highlight of the undercard is a 80-100 rated handicap over 1900m and though Alhzeem disappointed at this venue over this trip in a handicap on his last start, trainer Michael Costa has plenty of evidence to believe in the five-year-old Liam’s Map gelding who has shown a genuine liking for the surface in the past. Alhzeem turned up for the 2023-24 campaign with a massive five-and-a-half-length win over the progressive Delorean, who won last week’s feature at Jebel Ali; a run which puts the Costa trainee very much in the mix. Bin Ghadayer deploys two: UAE debutante Forest Falcon (Royston Ffrench) and Made In Dubai (Xavier Ziani), who had a lot to do on his last start in a mile handicap but did everything perfectly under Mickael Barzalona to win by two lengths. A two-time winner over a mile trip on the surface, the four-year-old More Than Ready gelding should be one of those fancied to land this despite never having run beyond a mile after showing he had a lot more left in the tank during his last performance. The Non Winner event (not more than one win) features a field of 10 juveniles, with Nezeeh (Saeed bin Suroor/Cristian Demuro) and Military Artist (Fawzi Nass/Adrie de Vries) bound to share the spotlight for having won once in two starts each, with Killer Collect and Tactical Bound, third and seventh in the maiden won handsomely by El Nasseeb also demand attention. Alhzeem Silent Speech TRAINER MICHAEL COSTA HAS PLENTY OF EVIDENCE TO BELIEVE IN HIS FIVE-YEAROLD LIAM’S MAP GELDING ALHZEEM, WHO HAS SHOWN A GENUINE LIKING FOR THE SURFACE IN THE PAST.
PREVIEW / MEYDAN adiyat racing plus.com 13 ADIYAT RACING PLUS ISSUE 823 Thursday 7 th December 2023 LYKE ME OR NOT? NASS TRAINEE HEADS QUALITY MADJANI STAKES RENEWAL By Suleiman Altaf Some of the best Arabian dirt horses in the country will line up in the Group 2 Madjani Stakes as the season kicks into third gear with connections having their sights set on the Dubai Kahayla Classic in March. With an unblemished record for seasonal reappearances in the Emirates, RB Rich Lyke Me headlines the 13-runner field for the 1900m contest. The 124-rated Fawzi Nasstrainee successfully defended his Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 crown last campaign on his seasonal debut before heading to Saudi Arabia where he recorded a pair of runner-up finishes. Regular rider Adrie De Vries once again partners the grey, but things should not come easy this time around having to give 3kgs to the rest of the field owing to his Group 2 success in January. Fresh from a double on the Jewel Crown card at Abu Dhabi on Sunday, jockey Cristian Demuro gets the call on Nass’ second-string Hiab Al Zaman. The US-bred six-year-old posted a modest fourth on his UAE debut last season in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 but looked to have needed the run. With the summer now on his back, he can provide a serious challenge to his highly fancied stablemate. Dual Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 winner Jugurtha De Monlau also makes the field, but he has so far appeared to save his best for Super Saturday. To make matters worse, he carries a 3kgs penalty and is poorly drawn in 12. Another one for the YAS Racing connections and probably a likelier winning prospect is Deryan who finally made it to the winner’s enclosure for the first time since winning on the Dubai World Cup card in 2021 on his seasonal bow this term at Al Ain. He will jump from stall one and has the potential to trouble the principals in this race. RB RICH LYKE ME HEADLINES THE 13-RUNNER FIELD FOR THE 1900M CONTEST. eappea a ces e a es, c US bed s yea od posed a odes RB Rich Lyke Me
ADVERTORIAL adiyat racing plus.com 14 ADIYAT RACING PLUS ISSUE 823 Thursday 7 th December 2023 Leading Dubai-based real estate and lifestyle developer Azizi will sponsor the third meeting of the Dubai Racing Carnival on Friday. The nine-race card features the Listed Garhoud Sprint, the second leg of the Emirates Sprint Series, worth AED500,000 which is an early stepping stone towards the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen – a double last completed in 2022 by Switzerland. The evening of racing begins with the Group 2 Madjani Stakes, over 1900m. Azizi Developments is a leading developer based in Dubai. With tens of thousands of homes successfully delivered to local and international investors and end users of over 100 nationalities, the developer prides itself on its extensive portfolio of modern luxury developments across Dubai’s most soughtafter residential and commercial destinations, its construction-driven approach, and its commitment to transparency and customer centricity. Azizi’s residential and commercial properties are investor friendly, catering to all lifestyles. The developer makes it its international mission to develop lifestyles and enrich the lives of its residents with a focus on catalysing the vision and development of the markets that it operates in. Azizi currently has around 40,000 units under construction that are projected to be delivered by 2027, worth several billion USD. The company is known for the UAE’s second tallest skyscraper and has a strong track record and sizeable project pipeline through its extensive land bank and strategic partnerships with Dubai’s key master developers, and is instrumental in developing world-class properties in MBR City, Palm Jumeirah, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai Healthcare City, Dubai South, Al Furjan, Studio City, Sports City and Downtown Jebel Ali. Mirwais Azizi, the Founder and Chairman AZIZI TO SPONSOR LISTED ACTION AT MEYDAN RACECOURSE ON FRIDAY of Azizi Developments, said: “It is with utmost pleasure and excitement that we sponsor the Dubai Racing Club, now for the seventh consecutive year. The Dubai Racing Carnival, the Dubai World Cup and all of the events surrounding it mean a lot to us, with equestrianism being a sport and passion for many here that is deeply rooted in the UAE’s culture and heritage. “These gatherings perfectly align with our mission of bringing communities together, and placing Dubai on the world stage, showcasing its countless merits as the ideal host for such high calibre events. We look forward to a thrilling racing season, and to being part of these happenings for years to come.” Major General Dr Mohammed Essa Al Adhab, Executive Director of Dubai Racing Club, said: “We look forward to welcoming our friends at Azizi back to Meydan Racecourse on Friday evening. We’re excited about showing them a competitive evening of action featuring two important Stakes races. “Azizi have been important partners with Dubai Racing Club for several seasons. We thank them once again for their support and wish their team and guests an enjoyable evening of racing.” MIRWAIS AZIZI: THE DUBAI RACING CARNIVAL, THE DUBAI WORLD CUP AND ALL OF THE EVENTS SURROUNDING IT MEAN A LOT TO US.
adiyat racing plus.com 15 ADIYAT RACING PLUS ISSUE 823 Thursday 7 th December 2023 GODOLPHIN NEWS GIMCRACK STAKES 2016 PAVILION STAKES 2017 BENGOUGH STAKES 2017 KING'S STAND STAKES 2018, 2019 MEYDAN SPRINT 2019 NAD AL SHEBA TURF SPRINT 2019 AL QUOZ SPRINT 2019 DIAMOND JUBILEE STAKES 2019 Blue Point became the only European stallion since Sadler’s Wells 35 years ago to sire two first-crop juvenile Group 1 winners; Rosallion who won the Prix Jean-Luc Lagadere before Big Evs landed the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. He also registered a remarkable 50th individual winner last week when his daughter Word’s Out won at Deauville in France. BLUE POINT Blue Point will stand at Kildangan Stud for a fee of €60,000 in 2024 Sire: Shamardal Dam: Scarlett Rose Trainer: Charlie Appleby Owner: Godolphin Race record 20:11-3-3 Career earnings AED11.8m G1 2018 2019 DIAMON JUBILE STAKE
GODOLPHIN NEWS adiyat racing plus.com 16 ADIYAT RACING PLUS ISSUE 823 Thursday 7 th December 2023 By Sam Turner Connections of Lemon Pop are eyeing a return trip to Dubai after witnessing the five-year-old confirm his status as Japan’s leading dirt horse with an impressive victory in the Group 1 Champions Cup at Chukyo. Ridden by Ryusei Sakai, the son of Lemon Drop Kid was tackling 1800m for the first time and looked to have a tricky task adopting front-running tactics from stall 15. However, Sakai navigated a passage to the front leaving the gates and built an advantage down the back straight. Turning for home, Lemon Pop was asked to lengthen and soon had his rivals under pressure, so much so that his rider could LEMON DISPLAYS PLENTY OF ZEST TO DEAL CHUKYO RIVALS A BITTER BLOW take things easy as the line approached to record a comfortable length-and-a-quarter verdict over Wilson Tesoro for trainer Hiroyasu Tanaka. Lemon Pop had already captured the only other top-level dirt contest in Japan, the February Stakes at Tokyo, in addition to landing the local Group 1 Mile Championship Nambu Hai on the NAR circuit by a distance in October. Although only 10th when beaten just over six lengths in last year’s Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen behind Sibelius, this victory over 1800m clearly opens up new options for the likeable entire who could have a choice of future targets in the Middle East post-Christmas. HARRY SWEENEY: LEMON POP WAS AWESOME – THERE CAN BE NO DENYING THAT. NO HORSE DRAWN IN THE OUTSIDE THREE STALLS HAS EVEN MADE THE FRAME IN THE LAST DECADE.
GODOLPHIN NEWS adiyat racing plus.com 17 ADIYAT RACING PLUS ISSUE 823 Thursday 7 th December 2023 CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY FOR GODOLPHIN Harry Sweeney, President of Godolphin in Japan, said: “Christmas has come early for us in Japan! And indeed if Santa Claus doesn’t turn up, we won’t be upset! “Lemon Pop was awesome – there can be no denying that. No horse drawn in the outside three stalls has even made the frame in the last decade, so Lemon Pop needed to overcome the obstacle of the widest draw of all. “Also, doing it from the front is probably not the easiest way to win a Group 1 but he had little alternative because of the draw and it was another excellent ride for Ryusei Sakai. In truth, he looked all over the winner when turning in – he was still travelling very well while everyone else was hard at work. “Lemon Pop looked really well in the paddock before the race and had been training well with a perfect preparation. Kudos to the trainer and his team for an excellent job. Lemon Pop spent the summer in our Castle Park training centre in Hokkaido and our team did a brilliant job there to return him in peak condition for his autumn/winter campaign. “Though five years old, he is relatively lightly raced and over four seasons has only run 14 times. As he is in great form, we are hoping to keep him in training for another year and will be considering the Group 1 Saudi Cup before hopefully going back to Dubai in March.” GODOLPHIN ARE HOPING TO KEEP LEMON POP IN TRAINING FOR ANOTHER YEAR AND WILL BE CONSIDERING THE GROUP 1 SAUDI CUP BEFORE COMING BACK TO DUBAI IN MARCH. Lemon Pop
GODOLPHIN NEWS adiyat racing plus.com 18 ADIYAT RACING PLUS ISSUE 823 Thursday 7 th December 2023 Group/Grade 1 wins: 2 Sire: Lemon Drop Kid (USA) Dam: Unreachable Age: 5 Trainer: Hiroyasu Tanaka Owner: Godolphin Following his impressive victory in the Grade 1 Champions Cup last weekend, Godolphin’s Lemon Pop has been elevated to the best dirt horse in Japan. Targets now include the Saudi Cup and a return to Dubai on World Cup night. “Lemon Pop was awesome today – there can be no denying that.” — Harry Sweeney, President of Godolphin in Japan, speaking after the five-year-old’s victory in the Champions Cup. LEMON POP (Champions Cup, Chukyo; February Stakes, Tokyo) FOALED 15.2.2018 Career earnings AED13.94M Career stats 14:10-3-1
adiyat racing plus.com 19 ADIYAT RACING PLUS ISSUE 823 Thursday 7 th December 2023 JAPAN Longines Dubai Sheema Classic hero Equinox, the world's highest rated horse and impressive winner of the Japan Cup, has been retired to stud following a sixth successive Group 1 victory. The four-year-old, a spectacular winner on Dubai World Cup night, made his final appearance on a racecourse an explosive one when winner of the Japan feature in Tokyo, displaying his trademark turn of foot to win by four lengths from a field full of previous Group and Grade One winners. That victory saw Tetsuya Kimuda’s colt extend his winning streak at the top level to six, with the son of Kitasan Black last suffering defeat when edged out in the Japanese Derby in May of last year. Equinox will now join his sire at Shadai Stallion Station in Hokkaido and Sunday’s victory also meant he surpassed dual Japan Cup winner Almond Eye as Japan’s biggest money earner. Another Japanese star, albeit not quite at Equinox’s level, will also be heading to stud in Hokkaido after bowing out in the Japan Cup. The redoubtable Panthalassa, winner of the 2022 Dubai Turf and also successful in the 2023 Saudi Cup, will take up stud duties at Arrow Stud in Shin-Hidaka after running a typically exuberant race from the front in his final start for trainer Yoshito Yahagi. Explaining the decision, an emotional Yahagi said: “He has no problems after the race (Japan Cup), but from the beginning of the year I thought he would retire at the end of the season.” “Panthalassa has been a learning experience for me. I never expected him to become such a great horse, I never imagined it, just shows that you can never really know! There were so many fans of his, I just wanted to create a unique horse for myself and the fans. However, I cannot take all the responsibility, it is not something I can breed even if I wanted EQUINOX RETIRED TO STUD FOLLOWING RECORD-BREAKING JAPAN CUP VICTORY to. I think that was his genius. He was a horse that will stay in your heart. When I think of him retiring, I feel a strong sense of sadness.” Panthalassa concluded his career with earnings of 1,844,466,200 yen or roughly AED46million to retire the fourth highest Japanese prize money earner of all time. In contrast, Equinox won six races since his last reverse, including two editions of the Tenno Sho (Autumn), the Arima Kinen and the Takarazuka Kinen at home. His sole international success came in the Dubai Sheema Classic, when he easily accounted for Ralph Beckett’s dual Group One winner Westover by three-and-a-half lengths. The outstanding colt retires having won more than AED63million in prize money and his regular rider Christophe Lemaire paid tribute in a social media post illustrated with a picture of the pair after their latest Tokyo victory. He posted on X, formerly Twitter: “Equinox: ‘keep safe guys, I did my time!’ Christophe: ‘you reached the top partner, retirement well deserved. Enjoy! And thank you’.” Equinox Panthalassa
HONG KONG adiyat racing plus.com 20 ADIYAT RACING PLUS ISSUE 823 Thursday 7 th December 2023 HONG KONG CUP – 2000M Last year's winner Romantic Warrior, so imperious 12 months ago, is looking to become just the second back-to-back winner of this race, joining California Memory. He is also looking to become the first horse to complete the Group 1 QEII Cup-Group 1 Hong Kong Cup double in consecutive years. A spectacular G1 Cox Plate victory in Australia promises plenty but he needs to improve again to retain the crown. The horse who finished second to Romantic Warrior in April's QEII Cup, Prognosis, appears the biggest danger and arguably the most likely winner. Circumstances saw him end up well back in the QEII Cup and his effort to rattle home for second was tremendous. Since then, he has won the G2 Sapporo Kinen - with the likes of Win Marilyn and Shahryar beaten more than 15 lengths - before he flew home from last for third in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn), which was won in world record time for 2000m by Equinox. Three-time G1 winner Luxembourg, always dangerous in races like these, as well as emerging French three-year-old Horizon Dore, represent Europe, but the QEII Cup form looks the strongest and you can expect them to finish in reverse order here. Romantic Warrior LEGEND GOLDEN SIXTY FACING HIS DATE WITH DESTINY AT THE VALLEY HONG KONG VASE – 2400M Eleven years ago, Australian mare Sea Siren arrived at Sha Tin favoured to claim the G1 Hong Kong Sprint. She finished a well-beaten ninth behind Lord Kanaloa. This year, her daughter Warm Heart arrives from Ireland attempting to take the G1 Hong Kong Vase after a season that includes victories in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks, the G1 Prix Vermeille and the G2 Ribblesdale Stakes. She comes to Hong Kong in good form, having narrowly failed to beat Inspiral in the G1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Her main danger is another Breeders' Cup runner, G1 Breeders' Cup Turf third Shahryar. Diagnosed with a throat issue after he finished down the track behind Prognosis, he bounced back to something near his best at Santa Anita. A winner of the G1 Tokyo Yushun - the Japanese Derby - and the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic, it would be some feat if he could add a third feature in three years. G1 Caulfield Cup runner-up West Wind Blows, the regally bred Geraldina and laststart G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern winner Junko add more fire to the international travelling brigade. ROMANTIC WARRIOR COULD BECOME THE FIRST HORSE TO COMPLETE THE GROUP 1 QEII CUPGROUP 1 HONG KONG CUP DOUBLE IN CONSECUTIVE YEARS. The Longines Hong Kong International Races week culminates at Happy Valley on Sunday with a glittering card on which four Group One races will be staged. World Horse Racing analyst Andrew Hawkins discusses the main contenders in the top-tier contests for Adiyat Racing Plus.
HONG KONG adiyat racing plus.com 21 ADIYAT RACING PLUS ISSUE 823 Thursday 7 th December 2023 Highfield Princess HONG KONG MILE Golden Sixty could join Good Ba Ba as the only three-time winners of a HKIR contest should he land his third G1 Hong Kong Mile. That was expected to occur last year, but an off day saw him caught out by the reopposing California Spangle. Since then, Golden Sixty has proven his superiority over the local milers and, even first-up here, it is hard to see that changing. Therefore, it's about who among the visitors could potentially step up and challenge for the crown. Like many of these races, the key lies with the Japanese. Namur was sublime winning the G1 Mile Championship recently with Soul Rush (second), Danon The Kid (fifth) and Serifos (eighth) all in behind. Trainer Tomakazu Takano has seemingly unlocked the key to her and she may just be a terrific miler after being tried over further last season. If there is one though that could step forward out of the Mile Championship, it is Serifos. A soft draw may allow him to produce that trademark turn of foot. The Japanese can upset the Golden Sixty bandwagon - it's just a matter of which one to choose! HIGHFIELD PRINCESS IS A GENUINE STAR OF THE SPRINTING RANKS GLOBALLY, BUT SHE FACES A NUMBER OF HURDLES IF SHE IS TO PRODUCE HER BEST. The Green Mile: Golden Sixty has proven his superiority over the local milers on turf strips in Hong Kong HONG KONG SPRINT – 1200M While the Hong Kong brigade looks as vulnerable as ever in this division, there also appear to be few worthy challengers capable of knocking off the best local speedsters. Highfield Princess is a genuine star of the sprinting ranks globally, but she faces a number of hurdles if she is to produce her best and early signs suggest that she is struggling to adapt to her new environment. However, trainer John Quinn is a master horseman and it would be quite some story if she could add a fifth G1 win in a fourth country. Japanese sprinter Mad Cool is on the way up but also appears to be living up to his name, while compatriot Jasper Krone is coming off a tough run at Santa Anita in the G1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, a race that also threw up Irish competitor Aesop's Fables. Locally, Lucky Sweynesse is the clear standout but he has undergone a strange preparation. He has had a gruelling year and while he is the best of the locals, that long year could catch up with him. Still, there is nothing with enough upside to turn the tables - not even last year's winner Wellington, who has been comfortably beaten since by Lucky Sweynesse - and it should be Hong Kong's champion sprinter landing the prize.
22 ADIYAT RACING PLUS ISSUE 823 Thursday 7 th December 2023 THE BIG READ / RICHARD MULLEN adiyat racing plus.com Absolutely magical: Reynaldothewizard
23 ADIYAT RACING PLUS ISSUE 823 Thursday 7 th December 2023 THE BIG READ / RICHARD MULLEN adiyat racing plus.com By Duane Fonseca Attempting a return from an horrific injury is one of the toughest things to achieve and Richard Mullen, the former UAE Champion Jockey, can be forgiven for reaching the point where conundrums concerning his future in the saddle had started to rain down on him like hail. But the UAE’s second most successful rider knows a thing or two about not throwing in towels and produced a class ride at Al Ain last Friday to vanquish all those thoughts of doom and gloom he had started to nurse since falling off Godolphin’s Charlie Applebytrained Rebel’s Romance during the Grade 2 Bowling Green Stakes at Saratoga in July. BROKEN BODY, INTACT SPIRIT Speaking from his hospital bed at the time, Mullen somehow saw the irony in it all and wryly claimed he was “very sore with a broken collarbone, three broken vertebrae, a couple of broken ribs, a broken thumb and little bleeding on my lungs. But apart from that I’m okay!” Mullen knew he would recover physically. He knew there would be no problems there. What worried him were the psychological scars. Blotches of unsavoury data from the fall that would be processed and stored in the deep recesses of his mind, which would be far harder to erase when in the saddle. He seems to have done fairly well so far with a win and a runners-up effort, and four other money spots. “To be honest, it’s just nice to be back on the racetrack after what happened. Everything is a bonus now,” Mullen told Adiyat Racing Plus. “I’m back riding now and am back racing so hopefully that’s the worst of it”. The two-time UAE champion rose above his worst career fall to win at Al Ain on what was his 11th ride since the accident. And what a ride he delivered aboard Athbah Racing’s Saifaldin Deeb-trained Caram’bar, who appeared to go off the rails (not literally; more like out of control) on his first career start and needed constant cajoling to get back into the race. Mullen got him under control and then proceeded to win by two-anda-quarter lengths. A spectacular effort that did not go unnoticed, with the rider getting the call to ride Dennis O’Brien’s Mujeeb in the AED5 million PA Group 1 Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown. SILVER LINING FOR RESILIENT MULLEN AFTER STRIKING GOLD Two-time UAE Champion Jockey Richard Mullen feared the worst when an horrific racing accident cast a pall of gloom over his future. But a trip to the winners’ enclosure after a brilliant ride at Al Ain has him dreaming of more success. 2023 ACT SPIRIT tal bed at the time, rony in it as “very arbone, e, a roken ng on om that ecover there here. ride he deliver Saifaldin Dee appeared more caree cajo Mull then p a-quarte that did n getting the Mujeeb in th Sheikh Zayed RICHARD MULLEN: IT’S BEEN A BIT DIFFICULT SINCE I’VE GONE FREELANCE. WHEN YOU LEAVE A STABLE THE SIZE OF ZABEEL AFTER 16 YEARS, YOU KNOW IT’S GOING TO BE TOUGH.
24 ADIYAT RACING PLUS ISSUE 823 Thursday 7 th December 2023 THE BIG READ / RICHARD MULLEN adiyat racing plus.com 'WINNING AGAIN WAS GREAT' “It was great getting back in the winners’ enclosure soon after the injury. The goal was always to get back and getting back on a horse after that was the next goal and then I had to wait and see what happens,” said Mullen, who finished eighth in the Jewel Crown. “But it was a huge relief. Obviously, the first one is always important isn’t it? The first one of any season, but when you’re back from injury it always matters. So it was great to have a winner at Al Ain and hopefully it’s the first of many more.” It’s hard for someone to face the grim reality of their waning potency in any aspect of their life, with the ticking of the clock only serving to further accentuate the despondency. Three weeks ago when Adiyat Racing Plus caught up with Mullen, the proverbial glass might have seemed half empty to him, and though he knew he had a lot to be thankful for, he did admit “my years of challenging for the championships out here have gone”. The last weekend of racing would have definitely changed the dynamic for the 47-year-old, who has been riding freelance for the past couple of seasons having handed the baton as Zabeel Stables’ retained jockey to reigning champion rider Tadhg O’Shea. The move has been far from plain sailing, as Mullen explained: “It’s been a bit difficult since I’ve gone freelance. When you leave a stable the size of Zabeel after 16 years, you know it’s going to be tough. “But I’ve had many great years and fantastic experiences with Satish Seemar and Bhupat Seemar and I knew it was going to be tough but the time was right for all parties. “I’ve seen Zabeel go from a stable of royal family owned horses to what they’ve built up now and that was just down to the hard work Satish and Bhupat put down to attract new owners. That was His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s vision for Dubai: to bring in new owners and they’ve done a good job. “But with that comes a few more difficulties. When you’re dealing with individual owners RICHARD MULLEN: I’VE HAD MANY GREAT YEARS AND FANTASTIC EXPERIENCES WITH SATISH SEEMAR AND BHUPAT SEEMAR AND I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE TOUGH BUT THE TIME WAS RIGHT FOR ALL PARTIES. Richard Mullen winning the 2018 Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3 with North America
25 ADIYAT RACING PLUS ISSUE 823 Thursday 7 th December 2023 THE BIG READ / RICHARD MULLEN adiyat racing plus.com who have their own plans and want their own jockeys, it gets tough as a stable jockey as they have a right to it because they pay all the bills. “It became sort of frustrating towards the end because I wasn’t getting all the rides and all the nicer rides and you upset some of the owners in a race when you don’t pick their horse. I’ve always been very fortunate to have not just a strong Thoroughbred stable to rely on but a strong Purebred Arabian one as well from way back when I was riding for Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda and Ernst Oertel. I’ve had the privilege of having rides for Sheikh Mansoor and the famous colours of Wathba and Yas Racing. I’ve been very fortunate to land the job at Al Asayl Stables under the guidance of Sheikh Alyaza, with Dennis O’Brien as trainer (placed Mullen aboard Mujeeb in the Jewel Crown) so there’s a lot to look forward to there. You need to keep plugging away.” Since shifting base to the UAE in 2002, Mullen has twice won the UAE jockeys’ title. His first success arrived during the 2014-15 campaign and his second was gained two years later at the end of the 2016-17 season. When not winning a championship, Mullen was a regular among the top-five on the jockeys’ leaderboard, whose summit has been dominated for a little over the past decade by close friend O’Shea. He might not be challenging locally, but that hasn’t limited him from achieving fame internationally, riding winners for Sheikh Mohammed’s mighty Godolphin op, whose Appleby-trained Warren Point he guided to success in the Listed HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa Cup in Bahrain in February. In fact only months before the incident, in May, Mullen won the Grade 2 Fort Marcy Stakes aboard Ottoman Fleet, another Appleby trainee. “I’ve been very, very lucky to be riding for Godolphin over the years and I’ve had a great association with them going back to 1997 when I first came to Dubai,” said Mullen, who, coincidentally, earned his first UAE success aboard Grazalema, trained by Saeed bin Suroor for Godolphin. HE MIGHT NOT BE CHALLENGING LOCALLY, BUT THAT HASN’T LIMITED HIM FROM ACHIEVING FAME INTERNATIONALLY, RIDING WINNERS FOR SHEIKH MOHAMMED’S MIGHTY GODOLPHIN OPERATION. Mullen guiding Ottoman Fleet to victory in the Grade 2 Fort Darcy Stakes at Belmont only months before his accident
26 ADIYAT RACING PLUS ISSUE 823 Thursday 7 th December 2023 THE BIG READ / RICHARD MULLEN adiyat racing plus.com Mullen first UAE success was gained in one of the nation’s top races, the Al Fahidi Fort, which was run as a Prestige event when Grazalema won, but now enjoys Group 2 status. “When I first came to Dubai it was for Saeed and I had four amazing winters riding for him. It obviously gave me the taste for Dubai. Then I was with Jaci Wickham and Satish for many, many years and in recent years I’ve sort of joined Charlie’s stable and that’s been amazing and it’s a great thrill and pleasure to wear the blue silks. “It gives you immense pride to ride for these colours and the colours of Sheikh Mohammed stand out. The Makotum family have been extremely good and supportive of my family for many years and I’ve been fortunate to don some of their famous silks. It was an amazing experience and to win a Grade 2, unbelievable. To win one for Godolphin is even more special and I am truly grateful and thankful for His Highness and Charlie Appleby and the whole Godolphin team for the help and support they gave me. The USA is always a place you wanna ride and to win out there is more special. It’s always nice on the CV. It was a really successful stint and it didn’t end the way I wanted it to, but these things happen and you have to move on.” If Mullen has moved and is back to throwing punches it’s because of the support he’s had in his corner. “It was a scary incident and unfortunate for everybody involved. I was a bit slow getting back because I was in a cast, and a back and neck brace. I had to wait until those things came off before I could start doing any sort of movement,” Mullen explained. “It was eight weeks before I could really get into any sort of rehab. Once all that came off, I had to get a go ahead from the doctors to start pushing on with rehab and I spent three weeks at the Peter O’Sullivan House in Newmarket, which is owned by the Injured Jockeys Fund. They did a really good job getting me back on track and when I came out here I got straight back into the physio and did stronger gym work. The sunshine and warm weather helped my recovery. “I can’t thank everyone enough. Everyone at Darley in America where the accident first happened, His Highness Sheikh Mohamemd, Dan Pride (COO Godolphin America) and the entire Godolphin Team looked after me well. “I can’t thank Charlie and the team back in England enough for the support they gave me and my entire family cause it was probably a scarier time for them than it was for me. I can’t thank my family for staying strong and helping me through this difficult time.” Mullen might just have started to see the light at the end of the tunnel. RICHARD MULLEN: IT WAS A SCARY INCIDENT AND UNFORTUNATE FOR EVERYBODY INVOLVED. I WAS A BIT SLOW GETTING BACK BECAUSE I WAS IN A CAST, AND A BACK AND NECK BRACE. Secret Ambition
27 ADIYAT RACING PLUS ISSUE 823 Thursday 7 th December 2023 THE BIG READ / RICHARD MULLEN adiyat racing plus.com RICHARD MULLEN 6 2 2006 CHAMPAGNE STAKES (VITAL EQUINE) 2010 MILL REEF STAKES (TEMPLE MEADS) 2015 AL MAKTOUM CH. R1 (SURFER) & 2019 (NORTH AMERICA) 2019 AL MAKTOUM CH. R2 (NORTH AMERICA (RIGHT) 2023 FORT DARCY (OTTOMAN FLEET) 2018 AL MAKTOUM CHALLENGE R3 (NORTH AMERICA) 2013 DUBAI GOLDEN SHAHEEN (REYNALDOTHEWIZARD) 26 10 2 575 UAE WINNERS G2 WINS G1 WINS As Richard Mullen returns to the saddle after his dreadful accident at Saratoga, Adiyat Racing Plus looks back at the English jockey’s career through his incredible numbers. GROUP 3 WINS (2019 DUBAWI STAKES, RAVEN'S CORNER) LISTED WINS UAE JOCKEYS’ CHAMPIONSHIPS (2014-15 & 2016-17) First UAE winner Feb 3, 2000. Grazalema for Saeed bin Suroor (2000 Al Fahidi Fort, when run as a Prestige event, now a Group 2) Most recent UAE winner Dec 1, 2023. Caram'bar for Saifaldin Deeb Significant Horses Reynaldothewizard, North America, Secret Ambition ALMAKT DUBA (REY As Richard Mullen return after his dreadful acciden looks English jockey’s career th
REVIEW / AL AIN adiyat racing plus.com 28 ADIYAT RACING PLUS ISSUE 823 Thursday 7 th December 2023 By Suleiman Altaf Richard Mullen admitted his “huge relief” after partnering his first winner since returning from injury at Al Ain on Friday night, on a card which saw plenty of doubles and notable successes for jockeys and trainers alike. The two-time UAE champion jockey was hospitalised following a horror fall from the Charlie Appleby-trained Rebel’s Romance at Saratoga in July, suffering multiple injuries which included a broken collarbone and fractured vertebrae. Thankfully, the 47-year-old has made a full recovery at a time where long-term weighing room counterparts Dane O’Neill and Graham Lee are struggling with serious injury, and he crowned his return with a terrific ride aboard Athbah Racing’s Caram’bar in the 1400m age-restricted three-year-old maiden. It was also the campaign’s maiden winner for trainer Saifaldeen Deeb and Mullen’s mount, a 14-length winner of his trial race at Meydan, confirmed the promise shown that day, winning by a comfortable three lengths from debutant Kalif De Carrere (Ben Coen/Ahmed Al Mehairbi). Magic Touch (Patrick Cosgrave/ Abdallah Al Hammadi) was third after making the running. “It was great getting back in the winners’ enclosure soon after the injury,” remarked a relieved Mullen. “The goal was always to get back and getting back on a horse after that was the first goal and then I had to wait and see what happens. But it was a huge relief. “Obviously, the first one is always important, isn’t it? The first one of any season, but when you’re back from injury it always matters. So, it was great to be back, and I can’t thank His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the whole team at Godolphin enough for their support, because without their help the recovery wouldn’t have been as quick. It was great to have a winner at Al Ain and hopefully it’s the first of many.” PINHEIRO MAINTAINS WIN FORM It was the in-form duo of rider Bernardo Pinheiro and handler Majed Al Jahoori that stole the show as they combined to land the AED200,000 feature with Faaris. The four-year-old colt was a winner on his UAE debut in a maiden race at the backend of last season and took the step up in grade in full stride, extending his unbeaten record Caram'bar MULLEN OFF THE MARK WHILE IN-FORM PINHEIRO CAPTURES FEATURE RICHARD MULLEN: IT WAS GREAT TO BE BACK, AND I CAN’T THANK HIS HIGHNESS SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN RASHID AL MAKTOUM AND THE WHOLE TEAM AT GODOLPHIN ENOUGH FOR THEIR SUPPORT.
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