By Suleiman Altaf -
The AED100,000 Listed Al Ain Cup, the feature event on a bumper 10-race card at Al Ain, was taken home by RB Frynchh Dude, trained by Abubakar Daud, and expertly ridden by Panamanian rider Oscar Chavez.
The Byerley Racing owned stalwart was back to his best as he reclaimed his Al Ain Cup title having won it in 2022 in the race’s inception year. The eight-year-old had seen a dip in performance following that but enjoyed a rejuvenated campaign this term after having placed in a couple of Group 1 events at Meydan.
Friday’s victory came in a straightforward manner as Chavez secured the rail and the lead shortly after the break and was not for passing thereon. Rajeh, himself a Group 1 winner, remained his closest pursuer throughout the race going down by just under two lengths.
Al Mahbooba (Sam Hitchcott/Ibrahim Al Hadhrami) stayed on well to take third less than a length adrift of the runner-up.
PINHEIRO ENDS CAMPAIGN ON A HIGH NOTE
Fresh from Group 3 success on previous day’s Abu Dhabi card in the Arabian Triple Crown Round 3, Brazilian rider Bernardo Pinheiro picked up from where he left off last night with a hat-trick of wins in the card’s opening three races.
Partnering Zayd to success in the opening 1800m maiden for trainer Majed Al Jahoori, Pinheiro then scored aboard trainer Qaiss Aboud’s filly Al Delhab, for whom he has enjoyed a good association with for several years.
While Zayd had to battle hard for victory at his seventh attempt on the racetrack, Al Delhab scooted clear of her rivals in the straight to record an impressive six-length victory from AF Tasha’alal (Tadgh O’Shea/Ernst Oertel) in the 1800m filly and mare only maiden.
It was aboard trainer Al Hadhrami’s Shareek in Division One of the 1800m 0-90 rated handicap that Pinheiro completed a fourth straight success combined with feature race victory from the previous day. The five-year-old found some of his early season form back which had seen him finish third to subsequent Group race winner AA Lahab in a Conditions event in early February.
AL SHEMAILI IS OFF THE MARK ON FINAL BOW
Trainer Ahmed Al Shemaili had to wait for long for a maiden winner this season, but he must be pleased with how Ibra Attack came from out of the clouds to land the only thoroughbred contest on the card, a 1600m handicap for 0-80 rated thoroughbreds.
The three-month break since his last run in January seemed to have worked the trick for the six-year-old who produced a strong burst in the closing stages to nail down Perfect Balance in a last stride thriller under rider Jules Mobian.
Mobian was recording a double of his own as he had partnered Raji Al Wathba to a gate-to-wire success in the 2000m local bred maiden for trainer Eric Lemartinel and owners Al Wathba Racing.
AL BALUSHI ENJOYS A DOUBLE
Aboud posted a second winner of the evening with Sidara making all in the 1600m maiden under Saif Al Balushi. The six-year-old mare was finally compensated for a string of consistent efforts this season and recorded a career-best ninth winner of the season for her trainer in the process.
Victory aboard Sidara also instigated a quickfire double for the Omani rider as he then guided RB Sarab to a determined victory in season’s penultimate race, a mile handicap for 0-80 rated Purebred Arabians. Trained by Khalifa Al Neyadi, the six-year-old was recording a fourth win from his 21-race career so far.
ES LATTAM GOES BACK-TO-BACK AT AL AIN
The six-year-old Es Lattam racked up back-to-back victories at Al Ain with a game display in Division Two of the 1800m 0-90 rated handicap as he pulled out all stops under Omani apprentice Qais Al Busaidi to outbattle Majdy (Mobian/Lemartinel) in the final strides of the contest.
This was the third overall victory for the Hamad Al Marar trainee this term having also landed a handicap at Abu Dhabi on his seasonal reappearance.
GHIATH MKA AND CHAVEZ BRING CURTAINS DOWN ON AN EPIC SEASON
The 1400m four-year-old only maiden produced a fitting finale for UAE racing season 2023-24 with the Ahmad Salem Al Shamsi-trained Ghiath MKA and Chavez showing a resolute attitude to fend off Futoon Al Wathba (Adam Al Balushi/Al Hadhrami).
The winner was dropping in grade following a mere three length defeat in the Emirates Colts Classic a fortnight ago but was given the run for his money by the runner-up who took him all the way to the line.
With this, another epic racing season in the Emirates is done and dusted but it will not be long before it is all back with many fresh faces, both horses and human, but with the same old buzz and excitement.
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