ABU DHABI // Championship reversed the result of the prep race over Shamaal Nibras three weeks ago, to claim the Listed National Day Cup for Emirati trainer Ahmad bin Harmash.
Ridden by Colm O’Donoghue, Championship moved strongly to the front approaching the final 200 metres and crossed the finishing line a length-and-a-half ahead of Shamaal Nibras under Patrick Dobbs at the capital’s track on Sunday night.
“My horse had to concede 3-1/2 kilogrammes to Shamaal Nibras when they met last time,” said Bin Harmash.
“This time they were on equal terms and with that first run for the season under his belt, we really fancied his chance
“We campaigned him in the Dubai World Cup Carnival last season and that will be the plan again. A few races in Abu Dhabi is also an option as he seems to like this track.”
Drawn in stall No 1, O’Donoghue had Championship placed on the rails for much of the 1,600m trip, but he got the opening at the final turn from a tiring Munaseer, who tried to make all under Dane O’Neill.
Championship moved clear on the home straight. Dobbs came with a late challenge but was never going to catch the winner. Eavesdropper under Adrie de Vries took third spot ahead of Earnshaw and Forjatt, last year’s winner.
“The number one stall was not the ideal for a hold-up horse like him but luckily we got the opening at the right time in the race,” said O’Donoghue, riding in his first season in the Emirates.
“He travelled well and fortunately I didn’t run into any traffic. I only had to get him through the gap and ask for an effort. He responded beautifully to complete the job very nicely at the end.”
Sharaf Al Reef under Fernando Jara sprang a surprise to win the Group 3 Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup for Purebred Arabians.
The 2007 Dubai World Cup winning jockey had to draw all his might to get the Abdallah Al Hammadi-trained seven-year-old son of Bibi De Carrere to overtake the Szczepan Mazur-ridden Nahee.
“I have ridden him a few times before but tonight he responded well and ran a real big race,” said Jara.
Harry Bentley and Jesus Rosales both got off the mark for the season by taking the prizes for the first two races.
Bentley produced a late run to take the opener on Ahmed Al Mehairbi’s Fahadd and the Argentine jockey Rosales rode Sharab Al Reef to win the next, the first of the two winners on the night for Al Hammadi.
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