By Sam Turner -
Jap Hadad, carrying the famous silks of His Excellency Sheikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, produced a storming late run under Royston Ffrench to lift the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Cup at Sharjah on Sunday.
Events didn’t go to plan early on for the Irfan Ellahi-trained seven-year-old who was fractious in the gates and was in danger of forfeiting all chance in the feature with his exuberance.
However, starter Shane Ryan afforded Ellahi’s charge, sporting the silks of 1995 Derby winner Lammtarra, plenty of patience and the approach paid off as Ffrench, slowly away on the grey thanks to his antics in the stalls, brought his mount with a withering challenge late on to overhaul the Majed Al Jahoori-trained Asmaa Al Wathba and Bernardo Pinheiro.
There was two-and-a-half lengths between the pair at the line, with Azzouz (Charlie Bennett/Jaber Bittar) a further two lengths behind in third.
“The race certainly didn’t go to plan as he was very unruly in the gates. Thankfully, the starter (Shane Ryan) persevered and gave us a chance,” said Ffrench.
“He jumped a bit slow as he had played up in the gates, but he dug deep where it mattered and lengthened well late on. I’m very pleased and it is a lovely race to win.”
Irish rider Andrew Slattery partnered his first winner in the UAE when Perfect Balance found plenty in the straight to capture the closing 2000m Thoroughbred handicap for trainer Bhupat Seemar and owners Desert Rose Racing.
There was a quirky symmetry to the victory too, with Slattery’s first winner in the professional ranks a rather prophetic pointer to his first ever Emirates triumph.
“The first winner I ever rode was called Sharjah on December 15, 2017 at Dundalk! It has been a long time coming, but I’m very happy that it has.”
Pinheiro and Bittar at the double
Bernardo Pinheiro and trainer Dr Jaber Bittar wasted no time registering a double on the card when the Al Reef Stables-owned Zammam outstayed long-term leader AF Al Abadee to land the 2000m maiden an hour after Mubeed had taken the opening 1200m maiden in impressive fashion.
The latter understandably showed signs of inexperience on his racecourse bow, but his rider expertly harnessed his exuberance before unleashing his challenge with 400m to run.
From that point the race was over and Pinheiro, riding his 14th success of the campaign merely needed to keep his mount up to his work to score by eight-and-three-quarter-lengths from the Jules Mobian-ridden Ramiz Al Wathba (Eric Lemartinel), while Hazzam Al Wathba was a further length-and-a-quarter behind in third for Ryan Curatolo and trainer Jean-Claude Pecout.
“The trainer told me he looked a nice horse, but he’s just very powerful, very strong,” said Pinheiro.
“First time out he was a bit naughty, but I managed to get him to relax behind the gates and he jumped well, travelled well and finished the race well.
“I think he has the potential to improve quite a lot from this run.”
Pinheiro and Bittar completed their brace in race three when Zammam finished powerfully to overhaul front-runner AF Al Abadee and Marcelino Rodrigues (Ernst Oertel) in the final 200m for a first career success and a 15th of the season for his rider.
“So far the season has been amazing, I am so grateful for all the support I am receiving from all the trainers and everyone who cheer for me – I’m working hard to keep it going,” added a delighted Pinheiro.
Oertel fortunes continue to improve
After a steady start to the campaign, the stable of Ernst Oertel is finding its stride and AF Yakhtem decisively landed the 1000m handicap in the hands of Tadgh O’Shea.
Strangely, given their success in past seasons, this was a first victory of the campaign for the powerful trainer and jockey combination and the triumph looked on the cards from some way out as the 11-time champion jockey kicked for home decisively to score by three-and-a-quarter lengths from AF Al Sanaa
“That’s the first of the season in these colours and that’s some relief!” remarked O’Shea.
The victory also provided a measure of reassurance for Oertel, whose string are beginning to find form.
“The horses have been a bit down, but they are coming back to form now and it’s good to see AF Yakhtem winning again. He is a useful horse but has had his problems and we have had to take it steady with him.”
Makhtar, strongly ridden by Richard Mullen, powered home on the far rail in the 2000m handicap (0-75) to hand trainer Dennis O’Brien a sixth success of the campaign.
The Al Asayl-owned five-year-old, winning for the second time in his career, was some way adrift as the field turned for home, but Mullen, riding his third winner of the season, smuggled O’Brien’s gelding up the inside rail to pick off those in front of him and score tidily at the line from Maaly Al Reef and Oscar Chavez (Abdallah Al Hammadi). Al Mahzamy was a further length back in third under Tadgh O’Shea (Ernst Oertel).
