By Duane Fonseca
Jaber Bittar’s Muram romped to victory in the PA Prestige 1400m Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic dominantly under Tadhg O’Shea at Abu Dhabi Thursday night.
The 4yo Thakif filly, victorious on her second career start in a 1200m maiden at Sharjah, proved peerless after defending UAE Champion Jockey O’Shea, partnering her for the first time, let her stretch out fully in the straight, the pair having chased the leaders all along.
Once nudged, Muram flew to win by five and a half lengths with Fadiah Al Wathba, second for Majed Al Jahoori and Fresu, who missed out on what would have been a quick hat-trick for the Italian. Asmaa Al Wathba, also trained by Al Jahoori, took third, a further two and a quarter back, under Bernardo Pinheiro.
A treble was in store for Fresu and it was completed in the corresponding Abu Dhabi Colts Classic, also a 1400m PA Prestige event, was won by Al Mehairbi's Fadwaan, who won with a gritty late push to come home with a length to spare from Irfan Ellahi's JAP Ytwaad the ride of Jean van Overmeire. A further three and a half back in third was JR Patriot for Qaiss Aboud and Richard Mullen.
Fresu had earlier won the second and third races, AS Jezan won the card opening Jebel Jais 1200m sprint handicap for trainer Al Mehairbi and jockey Oscar Chavez by a short head from Ellahi’s JAP Mabroka, the ride of Pat Cosgrave.
Fresu’s first success was aboard ES Sudani, who edged forward to win the Wathba Stallions Cup for Private Owners 1400m handicap for Hamad Al Marar by a head from Aahid Al Khalediah II trained by Helal Alalawi and ridden by apprentice Connor Planas.
And he claimed his second in the subsequent event, the HH The President Cup Prep guiding Jean de Roualle’s favourite Somoud to the front along the rail in the final strides in the 2200m run. Somoud won by a short head from Mujeeb for trainer Salem Al Ketbi and Mullen, with Reem Baynounah securing third for Nisren Mahgoub and Cosgrave a further length and a quarter behind.
The card concluding 1600m handicap, the only Thoroughbred race on the programme, was won by Bhupat Seemar's Western Writer, who scripted a two and a half length success under the trainer’s first choice rider O’Shea.
Nibras Passion was second for Ismail Mohammed and Pinheiro, while Julio Olascoaga’s Perfect Love was third a further neck back with Jose da Silva up.
