16 November 2014, Abu Dhabi ~ Local apprentice Saeed Al Mazrouei produced a very polished display aboard Shateh (Mahabb (AE) x Fanar by Akbar) to win the Purebred Arabian National Day Prep race over 1600m, one of five Arabian races on the card for Sunday evening (16 November) at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club.
Having only his second start in the UAE, Shateh and his young jockey were well away and always at the head of affairs, the pair kicking clear 400m out as the field turned towards the finish.
That proved to be the decisive moment and they always looked likely to hold the late challenge of Marzooq. Both are trained by Majed Al Jahouri for Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Al Jahouri said: “We had an amazing season last time and things have started well this time. Saeed gave the winner a great ride and both horses are nice new recruits from France having just their second starts locally.”
The meeting opened with a 1600m maiden, won in style by Haanoof (Quazar x Shamayl by Kesberoy), ridden by Pat Dobbs for trainer, Yousef Al Bloushi and also owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Never far off the pace, Dobbs eased his mount to the front as the runners turned for home, soon putting daylight between themselves and 15 toiling rivals. It was a first winner of the season for the trainer.
Dobbs said: “This was a massive drop in class for the filly and she has won very nicely. I was always very confident and hopefully she can build on this win.”
Having enjoyed a pleasing first campaign with a licence last season when saddling eight winners, trainer Helal Al Alawi is already on four this time around after his Al Shahab (Velte (US) x Sirella by Dunixi) turned a 1400m maiden into a procession under Champion Jockey, Tadhg O’Shea.
“He ran very well on his only previous start,” said O’Shea. “This looked a very winnable opportunity as it did not appear a strong contest and he has won that in style. He should progress.”
Having saddled his first winner last Sunday at Abu Dhabi, fledgling trainer, Saeed Hadher Al Mazrouei doubled his tally with Girl Powerr (Calin Du Loup x Dixies Chick by Burning Sand (US), the ultra game winner of a 1600m handicap under Royston Ffrench.
Well away, Ffrench tried to make all but the pair were headed 300m out by Hab Nessnas. However, Girl Powerr was nothing if not determined and put her head back in front close home.
“She was very game,” said Ffrench. “She is a very versatile mare who ran well over 1000m last week but stays this 1600m well.”
MH Kanaz (Akbar x Blood Pressure by Dormane), ridden by Jose Santiago won the second round of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival ‘s Wathba Stud Farm Cup For Private Owners Only, a Purebred Arabians Maiden contested over seven-furlongs. The winner covered the distance in 1.36.49 seconds to lead by a nose under the wire.
“I’m truly delighted,” said the winning jockey Jose Santiago who had celebrated his first winner of the seven after finishing third and fourth in eight starts.
Trained by Elise Jeanne on behalf of breeder/owner Mansoor Khalifa Sultan bin Habtoor at the MH Stable, the three-year-old daughter of former champion Akbar broke nicely and made advantage of the inside rails as Wayne Smith put his mount Huyam on top gear to chase the winner home and the leading pair went eight lengths clear from the rest of the field in the final two furlongs.
“Wayne tried to hold me in, but my filly fought back courageously to prevail by a nose on the line. The race was very exciting and MH Kanaz has always pleased me to win under pressure,” said a jubilant Latin American jockey.
Al Sahraa was eight lengths back in third place in the hands of Harry Bentley for trainer Ahmed Al Muhairi.
The winning trainer, Elise Jeanne commented: “She’s a home-bred promising filly which is bred by the owner Mansoor Khalifa and trained in the heart of the desert. I am obviously very pleased. That was a brave effort.”
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