Hameem extends winning streak by securing Abu Dhabi Colts Classic

Adrie de Vries steers Valiant Boy colt to victory on Sunday

Adrie de Vries steers Hameem to win the fourth race at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club. Victor Besa / The National

Hameem bagged the Abu Dhabi Colts Classic to stretch his winning streak to three from three and underline his status as one of the best three-year-old local bred Purebred Arabians in the country.

Returning to the track nine days after winning a conditions race over a mile, the Abdallah Al Hammadi trained runner, with Adrie de Vries in the saddle, came home a convincing winner by four and-a-quarter lengths in Abu Dhabi’s fourth meeting on Sunday.

“He’s a very good horse,” the Dutch champion jockey said of the Valiant Boy colt.

“He only ran here last week over the mile trip and he did it well. We were a little bit concerned he was back on track so quick.

“But he seemed to have learnt a lot from it because he ran a lot better tonight. He travels well and he has a good kick. He’s a very easy horse to ride, and yes, has got a lovely turn of foot.”

Ibrahim Al Hammadi’s Samau Xmnsor, with Omani apprentice Abdul Aziz Al Balushi on board, finished best of the chasing pack. Ibrahim Aseel’s ES Rahmani, under Dane O’Neill, was two and-a-quarter lengths behind in third.

De Vries completed a double on the night by taking the concluding thoroughbred handicap prize on board Bahraini trainer Jaber Ramadhan’s Harbour Spirit.

The Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic went to Jean de Roualle’s newcomer Heba Al Wathba.

Richard Mullen, on board the Rabbah De Carrere filly, rode a well-judged race to produce with a well-time run to win from Eric Lemartinel’s Foah by two and-a-quarter lengths.

“I’m really happy for what she did tonight,” De Roualle said. “She beat a filly that had won first time out and that’s a good sign for the future.

“She has shown promise in her workouts and if she didn’t I wouldn’t have raced in this type of a competition for a debut. That wasn’t the easiest job I could ask her but she answered with a yes.”

Mullen raced her behind the leaders in fifth spot before producing with a challenge on the home stretch, which she duly obliged with a fantastic turn of foot.

“She’s a filly with a bright future,” Mullen said. “She had a very good draw [gate 4] and she was in a nice position travelling extremely well."