March Meeting Concludes Sharjah 2013/14 Season
March 15, 2014, Sharjah, UAE ~ Sharjah’s final meeting of the season on March 15 was highlighted by the track’s showpiece Ruler Of Sharjah 1700m condition which was more of a procession by the Ernst Oertel-trained Molahen El Alhan (AL NASR (FR) x FLORINE DE CARRERE (FR) under Tadhg O’Shea.
Champion Jockey O’Shea took his mount straight to the lead and the pair went clear 900m out, and with 700m to go they were nearly 15 lengths ahead of their nearest rival. O’Shea’s mount tried to drift off the rail at the top of the straight but the jockey soon straightened him out and, despite tiring close home, they had five lengths in hand over MH Areeb at the line. Ain Jaloot (AE) under Gerald Avranche was over a length behind in third.
It was a double for O’Shea after an earlier win for trainer, Saifaldin Deeb, who supplied the first and second places in the opening 1200m maiden. That race saw ES Fnnan (BIG EASY (US) x JOLIE DU CASSOU (FR) by Baco Du) running on far too strongly for stable companion ES Maydan under Daniel Muscutt. The Deeb duo were pretty much in the first three all the way before O’Shea’s mount surged clear 200m out to win easily.
Both are owned by HE Sheikh Abdulla Bin Majid Al Qassimi, who opened his seasonal account at Al Ain on Friday with the victory of the Deeb-trained ES Zeriyab. The owner said: “It is never easy to win races here in the UAE and it has been a good two days. I am indebted to Saifaldin Deeb for both winners and to get second as well here is very pleasing.”
O’Shea looked set for a treble in the concluding Sharjah Marathon, a 2700m handicap, with his mount Forgehill Cezanne, trained by Oertel, seemingly in control 200m from home, only to be caught in the dying strides by stable companion, Swyft (Dormane (FR) x Fryga (US) by Wielki Raz (US). Pat Cosgrave, hard at work on the eventual winner 600 out, was rewarded for his persistence with a last gasp success and a third track record.
Emirati apprentice Saeed Al Mazrooei made all on Al Jazi W’Rsan for Bakhit Al Ketbi in a 1700m maiden. Challenged persistently throughout the final 700m, Al Mazrooei’s mount fought off JAP Mahr, who had stalked him all the way, then at the 200m pole Abu Dhabi Helwa, Qaitar Al Reef and his own stable companion, Wakeed W’Rsan, were all in the mix.
The jockey, who also had a winner at Al Ain on Friday and now has a career best nine this season, said: “It has been a good season and things have gone well. This horse was really brave today and did not want to be passed.”
In the only Thoroughbred race on the card, a 1200m handicap, an impressive winner at Jebel Ali last Friday, the Satish Seemar-trained Glenleven followed up in great style, making a clear path to the win for stable jockey, Richard Mullen Well away, the pair were soon in front, though perhaps headed by Surge Ahead at halfway.
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