March 6, 2014, Al Ain, UAE ~ Al Ain’s third meeting on March 6 was highlighted by a 1600m Purebred Arabian handicap, won in style by Callateral, one of three in the race for Champion Trainer, Ernst Oertel.
Stable companion Gali Rich set a decent pace under apprentice Daniel Muscutt and, with 600m to go, Callateral (Calin Du Loup (FR) x Tomoka Kate (US) by Ala Croixnoire) was clearly going best of all under Sam Hitchcott. The jockey was happy to take his time though, waiting until the 300m pole before easing to the front.
A quick shake of the reins and the pair quickened clear, winning easily at the line.
Hitchcott said: “It was a nice spare ride and he has really enjoyed this all-weather surface. I was surprised just how well I was going at halfway and he then quickened clear.”
Oertel was completing a double, taking him to 33 winners as he tries to defend his crown, two more than Musabah Al Muhairi.
Despite jumping the winning line, the Oertel-trained Madjanthat (MADJANI (FR) x Dixies Delight (US) by Sam Tiki (US)was the easy winner of a 1400m maiden, romping to victory under apprentice Daniel Muscutt.
Muscutt took his mount to the front about 300m from home and they stormed clear, winning by eight lengths in a new track record. The only slight worry for Muscutt was when his mount appeared to see a shadow or reflection at the line, jumping it!
Muscutt said: “We were very hopeful of a big run but did not expect to win that easily. He saw something on the line and cleared it nicely – otherwise it was a smooth win.
“I have really enjoyed my first season in the UAE and am grateful to the trainer and owners for the opportunity.”
The only Thoroughbred race on the card, the concluding 1800m handicap, went to Doug Watson courtesy of Centrifugal under Pat Dobbs.
The meeting opened with a 1400m maiden and there was drama when the stalls opened with jockey Marc Monaghan left standing in the frame of the stalls with his mount, Mfton, departing without him.
The race itself went pretty smoothly for Jesus Rosales aboard the Jaber Bittar-trained Barq Al Reef, opening his account at only the second attempt.
Mfton briefly threatened to hamper Barq Al Reef (NEZ D’OR (FR) – Al Baraqa Al Thania) but Rosales was able to avoid the loose horse.
The winning jockey said: “He has won quite nicely and I was pretty happy most of the way round – though the loose horse was a bit of a nuisance about 200m out.”
Tha’Er (NIZAM (GB)x- DJAMILA LOTOISE (FR) by Djourman (FR), ridden by Pat Cosgrave for trainer Jameel Salman, won the 1600m handicap for horses owned by ‘private owners’, winning his owner, Saeed Hadir Abdullah Al Mazrooei, a 4×4 car in the process. The pair hit the front 200m, battling on strongly with Cosgrave saying: “He had to dig deep in the final 100m but ran on bravely.”
Cosgrave then completed a rapid double, landing the following 1600m conditions race on Yakoota W’Rsan (Monarch AH (US) – Vual (RU) by Aromat (RU) for trainer Jaci Wickham. It was a similar story to the victory of Tha’Er with Cosgrave producing his mount to lead inside the final 200m with the pair having to fight off determined challenges from both Ouasima and AF Asefah.
Cosgrave said: “They went pretty quick up font which has helped my mare who has plenty of stamina. Jaci did warn me she would hit a flat spot, which happened, but then picked up well with a great attitude.”
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