By Duane Fonseca
ES Abu Mousa’s proven affinity for the Sharjah dirt surfaced in the feature event of Saturday afternoon’s card, the GCC Cup Sponsored by HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival.
Going into the 1700m PA Prestige event, the 6yo full son of Azzam El Zobair had earned all his three career wins here, including one over course and distance on his seasonal bow in November. Thereafter only just beaten into second over 2000m here, he bounced back to winning ways for trainer Hamad Al Marar, with Antonio Fresu settling him just off the pace and throwing the kitchen sink at his rivals just before turning for home.
ES Abu Mousa’s only really woke up 100m out and when he went, he went like a bullet to snatch the lead in the closing stages and win by a neck from Jean de Roualle’s Hakaam, the ride of Dane O’Neill. A further length and a half back in third was Majdi for Abdalla Al Hammadi and Richard Mullen.
The feature success for Fresu’s second after the Italian first strike aboard Khalifa Al Neyadi’s Al Zafy in the 1200m handicap which bring up the first half of the card.
Earlier, the card got underway with a pair of maidens, both over 1200m for 3yos and both won by the trainer-jockey combine of Majed Al Jahoori and Bernardo Pinheiro. They first won the run for colts and geldings with Maahir and half an hour later had Asmaa Al Wathba go virtually gate to post in the corresponding fillies event.
The finish appeared to come just in time for Ibrahim Al Hadhrami’s Ray Dawson piloted Minwer in handicap over 1700m for UAE Bred horses rated between 45 and 75 which he won by a neck from Al Ajeeb W’Rsan trained by Jacki Wickham and guided by Mullen.
Rashed Bouresly’s Miqyas took out the card ending 1200m handicap, the only race for Thoroughbreds, under Oscar Chavez, winning by a half length from Bhupat Seemar’s fast-finishing Rayig, the ride of Tadhg O’Shea.
