Basically a two day fixture highlighted by the final of seven races, at midnight, the Al Ain Sprint, a 1000m dash with Prestige status which went the way of Heros De Lagarde under Richard Mullen for Ibrahim Al Hadhrami and HE Al Sh Nasser Mohammed Nasser Al-Hashar. The 6yo entire was actually doubling his career tally having not scored since his debut, over 1200m on the Abu Dhabi turf in February 2021, but he has been a model of consistency this season, placed in all four previous starts and in better company.
The admirable Goshawke bounced back to winning ways in the 2000m handicap, produced to lead right on the line by Al Moatasem Al Balushi for Abdallah Al Hammadi and Al Ajban Stables. The 9yo entire enjoyed his career highlight on the dirt at Meydan Racecourse when landing the 2200m Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge R2 on the last day of January in 2019 but has been a great servant to connections; this was his sixth career victory, third on dirt and second at Al Ain.
Connections were soon celebrating a double, combining to land the following 1600m maiden for fillies and mares foaled in the UAE with Unbridled who was pretty much last for the first half of the race before finishing with real purpose to lead entering the final 200m and win going away from her rivals. A 4yo, she was registering her first success at the sixth attempt, her best effort before this when a close fourth in an Al Ain maiden over 1800m on her previous appearance.
ALLA MAHLAK WINS EASY
The Bouresly Racing Syndicate’s Alla Mahlak, trained by Rashed Bouresly, ran out the relatively comfortable winner of the only Thoroughbred contest, a 1400m handicap, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi delivering him to grab the initiative inside the final 200m with the race soon in safekeeping. An entire horse by Kitten’s Joy, the 7yo was winning for the fourth time but first away from Jebel Ali.
The opening 2000m maiden was turned into a procession by Ghassan, never going to be caught after sent for home by apprentice Qais Al Busaidi, riding in the colours of Khadim bin Hamed bin Khadim bin Butti Alhamid for Khalifa Al Neyadi. The 4yo colt was opening his account at the fifth attempt, fourth in the UAE, having only made his local debut in February.
Two hours later, jockey and trainer were celebrating doubles after RS Sarab stylishly won a 1400m handicap for horses in private ownership for Mansoor Musabah Abdullah Hamad Al Sinaidi. For the 5yo entire it was a third career success, a second on dirt and at Al Ain having won a 1000m maiden here as recently as December in what has been a busy season.
A 1000m maiden for horses foaled locally was basically dominated from the outset by Jabr Al Wathba, probably never headed under Fernando Jara for Jean-Claude Pecout and Al Wathba Racing, the 4yo homebred colt makin
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