Seven races at Jebel Ali on Sunday afternoon, highlighted by the Future Champions Cup, a 1400m conditions contest for 3yos, won impressively by debutant Southern Artist, completing a rapid double for Bhupat Seemar and a treble on the card for Tadhg O’Shea.
Homebred by Fitri Hay, the Munnings colt always appeared to be travelling strongly under the Champion Jockey and the pair put the race to bed, in a few strides, entering the final 200m.
The owner’s husband, Jim Hay, said: “It is very exciting and extra special to have a homebred winner, especially in a feature race. he seemed to win easily so hopefully he can build on this.”
The preceding contest, a decent 1000m handicap, was won in taking fashion by Leading Spirit who dashed to the front in the final 125m, completing a double for O’Shea, this time sporting the silks of Touch Gold Racing for Bhupat Seemar.
The 1800m handicap provided O’Shea his fourth winner and a third consecutive race fell the way of Seemar, Ghost Of The Mambo delivering the goods for HRH Prince Sultan bin Mishal Al Saud.
The fixture commenced with the only Purebred Arabian race on the card, a 1400m handicap for horses foaled locally and the formidable Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda, Ernst Oertel and O’Shea combination struck again, AF Mutakafel landing the spoils.
Pat Dobbs delivered Golden Arch in the final 125m to snatch a 1400m maiden for Doug Watson and Al Rashid Stables.
Seemingly in trouble at halfway in a 1200m handicap, Adrie de Vries was calmness personified until unleashing Imprison with a late surge to take the prize for the Bouresly Racing Syndicate whose horses run in the name of Rashed Bouresly.
The concluding 1600m handicap saw a positive Fernando Jara ride rewarded, soon in front on Justice Protecol for Ismail Mohammed and always looking on top.
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