ABU DHABI // Richard Hills finished his work in the capital in great style last night by claiming a double in the last two races in the silks of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid.
He rode Tenor Des Vialettes to victory in the second round of the Arabian Triple Crown, a Group 3 prize, and then won the solitary thoroughbred race on Monte Alto.
Hills made all the running on Tenor Des Vialettes to win the 2,200-metre feature prize in a photo finish from Frynchman ridden by Olivier Peslier.
"He is an improving young horse and will return for the final leg of the Triple Crown," al Muhairi said of the UAE Arabian Derby winner.
"He showed real character to win this race. He doesn't have a powerful finish but he hung in there gamely to hold off a late challenge from Frynchman, whom we know has a good turn of foot when it comes to a sprint to the finishing line."
The Dorman colt was completing a hat trick after finishing a long way behind Frynchman in his first start career start on December 26. He won the opening round of the Triple Crown from Frynchman and two weeks later won the UAE Arabian Derby over the same course and distance.
Hills rode a waiting race on Monte Alto. He came with a late run to win the Emirates Championship Prep from Royaaty and Al Rasm.
The seven-year-old gelded son of Danehill Dancer has won over the course and distance twice but this was his first victory in seven starts this season. "He has run some good races in defeat, particularly in the last three races at Meydan on the all weather, and we had a lot of hopes at Abu Dhabi," al Raihe said.
"We will see how he has come out of this race and the plan is to return for the Emirates Championship in three weeks. That probably would be his season."
Mohammed al Ketbi, the new Emirati trainer, made a dream start when Towaisann Al Reef, his first runner, made all under Chris Taylor to take the Emirates Colts Classic, a race with Prestige status for four-year-old locally bred Arabians.
