Somoud storms to Al Ain Mile victory in first UAE meet to take place behind closed doors

Somoud, ridden by Connor Beasley, races to victory in the Al Ain Mile. Antonie Robertson/The National

Ahmed Al Mehairbi celebrated his biggest career success as a trainer when Somoud blew away the opposition to clinch the Group 3 Al Ain Mile on Thursday in the first race meet to take place behind closed doors in the UAE.

The Emirates Racing Authority announced that all meetings this weekend at Jebel Ali (Friday), Meydan (Saturday) and Abu Dhabi (Sunday) would not be open to the public as a precaution to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

In the absence of racegoers and racing in the silks of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed’s Yas Racing, Somoud, under Connor Beasley, stayed on gamely towards the finish line to win ahead of Shadda’Ad and MH Rahal by a length and a quarter and half-a-length respectively.

“He has been running consistently well but he was brilliant tonight when stepping up in class,” Al Mehairbi said.

“He’s rated only 80 and was competing against horses rated 100 to 120. He showed how much he has progressed and I hope this result will improve his rating significantly to get an invite for the Dubai Kahayla Classic (the Arabian showpiece improve at the Dubai World Cup).”

Shahm, who was re-routed to the Al Ain Mile after he was withdrawn from the Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 for being unruly at the starting gates last week, could finish only sixth in the 13-runner field.

“The mile distance appeared to be too sharp but it was mainly to give him a prep run ahead of the Kahayla,” Shahm’s trainer Majed Al Jahouri said.

“He ran a good race and was beaten by just over two lengths. I would like to think this outing will benefit him in many ways. Obviously we are now looking at the Kahayla.”

Al Mehairbi was completing a double on the night after Fernando Jara brought home Aiz Alawda in the third race.

Jara also completed a double on board ES Nahawand half hour later to provide Sudanese trainer Mohammed Daggash his first winner in more than two years.

Beasley also celebrated a double after steering home Abdallah Al Hammadi’s Winked in the fifth race.