A busy National Day weekend concluded in the UAE capital when the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club staged its biggest meeting of the season, highlighted by the 2200m Group 1 AED5 million Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown, First Classs taking the prize, chased home by last year’s heroine, Lady Princess.
Ronan Thomas was in the saddle for Jean de Mieulle in the colours of Nayef Saad Sh S Al Kaabi.
Thomas said: “They went quite quick up front so I was happy to take my time and he was always travelling happily before picking up very well. He then galloped all the way to the line.
“I am very proud of him because Lady Princess is very good indeed.”
The main support race, the 1600m Group 3 Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup was taken fairly comprehensively by AF Alwajel, homebred by Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda, saddled by Ernst Oertel and a spare ride for Pat Dobbs who replaced the absent Tadhg O’Shea in the saddle.
Returning after exactly a year off the track, the 7yo entire showed few signs of rustiness and Oertel said: “I am very proud of my horse after such a long absence and it is great to win such a big prize with a horse bred in the UAE.”
Also over the 1600m, the Thoroughbred equivalent, the Listed Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup, provided Dobbs with a third winner on the card, partnering local debutant San Donato to an impressive victory on his first start for Doug Watson.
Owned by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, the 6yo gelded son of Lope De Vega had last seen racecourse action 599 days ago.
Dobbs said: “Doug and his team have done a great job with him and to have fit to do that after such a long break. He had been working well so I was quite hopeful.”
The fixture kicked off with a 2200m handicap in which Dobbs produced Suny Du Loup to deny the gallant Only Smoke in the dying strides for Hamad Al Hamar.
A conditions race for 3yos, the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Cup attracted the capacity field of 16 but only one mattered from the top of the straight when local debutante Nadia Du Loup, one of three fillies in the race, shot clear under Antonio Fresu, sporting the silks of Yahya Rashid Al Masruri for trainer Sulaiman Al Ghunaimi.
A similar 1600m contest but for the older fillies and mares, the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup, was settled by judge’s photo, Dane O’Neill and Dareen just holding on for Yas Racing and Jean de Roualle, thwarting the late challenge of Bshara.
O’Neill said: “I was pretty hopeful we had edged it but it was very close at the line.”
De Roualle added: “I am very pleased with that, especially first time on turf and after a long break. She is a nice young mare.”
The fixture kicked off with a 2200m handicap in which Dobbs produced Suny Du Loup to deny the gallant Only Smoke in the dying strides for Hamad Al Hamar.
Oertel and Al Nabooda supplied the 1-2 in the finale, a 1600m handicap for horses in private ownership, Fernando Jara and AF Rasam pulling clear of stablemate AF Muhem over the final 150m, completing doubles for owner and trainer.
