Brazilian jockey Bernardo Pinheiro celebrated two of his most remarkable days after four years in the UAE.
Pinheiro rode a treble at Al Ain on Friday after claiming his biggest prize in the country, the Group 2 Baniyas for Purebred Arabians, with Jayide Al Boraq at Meydan the previous night.
Pinheiro began with a victory on the Mohamed Daggash-trained Dalil De Carrere in the seven-race card meeting at the Garden City racecourse.
He returned to the winner’s enclosure on board Mahmood Hussain’s Pharitz Al Denari in the third race and completed the hat-trick by taking the concluding Maiden on Qaiss Aboud’s AF Lewaa.
Pinheiro settled Dalil De Carrere just behind the leaders before navigating an inside route on the home turn to take the opening handicap from Helal Al Alawi’s Dassan Da by more than five lengths.
“The horse obviously likes it here at Al Ain and we know he stays further, so I was happy to commit about a fair way out fully aware he would keep going all the way to the line,” the winning jockey said of the seven-year-old’s second success on the track in three starts.
Pinheiro was back in the winner’s enclosure an hour later with another comfortable success on top of Pharitz Al Denari.
“He ran well last week, staying on nicely over a trip too short,” Pinheiro added. “He showed his inexperience here which suggests there is more to come as he gains more experience.
“It has been a great two days and I have to thank all the owners and trainers who have given me these chances.”
Emirati trainer Salem bin Ghadayer took his tally for the season to seven winners with Miracle Maker by taking the solitary prize on offer for the thoroughbreds.
Xavier Ziani turned the 2,000m race into a procession after taking up the running 700m from home to win by six and-a-quarter lengths from Anizzah under Fernando Jara.
“I rode him first time this season at Jebel Ali and we went too fast but that 1,400m distance was too short last time,” Ziani said.
“He was a big baby last season and has matured a lot over the winter. We thought the Al Ain conditions would suit him as his best runs last season were at Meydan; both are flat tracks.
“As he gets older and experience, hopefully, he will continue to improve and could be a fun horse to have in the yard.”
