A double for the powerful triumvirate of UAE Champion Owner Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda, his trainer Ernst Oertel and his first choice rider UAE Champion Jockey Tadhg O’Shea was the highlight of Thursday evening’s action at Abu Dhabi.
The six-race turf card had just one Thoroughbred contest on it - the Fairmont Marina 1600m maiden for 2yos, which brought the evening to a close and was won by Salem bin Ghadayer’s Tempesta D’Oro under Xavier Ziani, the rider guiding him expertly after his slow break. With 600m left to run and heading into the far turn the Bolt D’Oro colt, who was seventh on his racecourse debut on Meydan’s dirt a week ago, found his mojo and strode confidently forward to go well clear in the straight.
Ahmad bin Harmash’s Dubai West managed to cut the deficit to two and a quarter lengths at the post in the hands of Saif Al Balushi, with Bhupat Seemar’s Bozan a further half length back in third under apprentice Connor Planas.
The six-race card opened with the Wathba Stallions Cup 2200m handicap for Purebred Arabians that was won by Khalifa Al Neyadi’s Al Hazeez, whose late charge saw him seize victory by a short head on the line under jockey Saif Al Balushi. That kept Saqib Shaikh from gaining a first win as trainer as M’a Yaromoon was only just denied having put on a good performance under Jesus Rosales. A length and a quarter back in third was Abdul Aziz Al Balushi and his Helal Alalawi-schooled partner AF Kayed.
The Shams Gate 1200m maiden for PAs run subsequently, was snapped up by ES Sudani for trainer Hamad Al Marar and jockey Antonio Fresu in pretty much the same manner with a late burst that saw him win by three fourths of a length from Oertel’s AF Mathakeel, the ride of O’Shea.
Al Nabooda, O’Shea and Oertel’s disappointment was shortlived however as the Irish rider found himself on target in the following Al Bahr Towers 1200m handicap that he won with AF Musannef, who held off teammate and stable companion AF Yakhtem, the ride of Marcelino Rodrigues, by a neck.
Rookie handler Nisren Mahgoub claimed a second win in The Capital Gate 1600m maiden for UAE Bred horses with the Dane O’Neill piloted Shugga’a Baynounah who finished two and a quarter clear of Hazem Al Wathba for trainer Ibrahim Al Hadhrami and Ray Dawson.
Al Nabooda, O’Shea and Oertel completed their scoring in the feature event of the card, the Etihad Towers 1600m conditions run with AF Maqam. Raced mid-division, AF Maqam always looked strong to win and came home comfortably with three lengths to spare from AF Mualami, trained by Hamad Al Marar and ridden by Fresu. A further head back in third was Abubabar Daoud’s Taranom the ride of Sandro Paiva.
