Tadhg O’Shea proves his mettle with Abu Dhabi four-timer

Eight-time UAE champion moves clear in UAE jockey's championship

Tadhg O'Shea rides Jabalini for the first of his four winners at Abu Dhabi on Sunday, February 14, 2021. Courtesy ERA

Tadhg O’Shea put more daylight between him and the others in the UAE jockey’s championship title after riding a four-timer at Abu Dhabi’s 10th meeting on Sunday.

The Irishman got the ball rolling on board Omani trainer Ibrahim Al Hadhrami’s Jabalini in the third race before cleaning up the remaining prizes.

That included a double for Ernst Oertel on board AF Abahe and AF Makerah, both in the silks of his main patron Khalid Khalifa Al Naboodah, and the concluding thoroughbred prize on Satish Seemar’s Law Of Peace.

It took the eight-time UAE champion jockey’s tally to 31 winners, 11 more than his closest challenger Fabrice Veron.

“Khalid and Ernst didn’t have a runner in the race and it worked out quite well,” O’Shea said of his spare ride and first of his four winners on the night.

“I got a phone call to ride this fellow. Actually, I rode him in Oman last year over the mile to finish third.

“I got a bit worried of the distance [2,200m] when passing the 300m marker. He put on the breaks a bit, but thankfully, when the second (horse) came to me he pulled out again.

“I think there’s more to come (from him). He’s got a great attitude. He settled in well in the run in third. He was relaxed and he was push-button there on.”

O’Shea got back in the winner’s enclosure with another enterprising ride on AF Abahe 30 minutes later.

“I had a good willing partner,” O’Shea said of his second winner. “He got a lovely run through the inside. He deserved to win. He had a good run here (second) the last time and good to get his head in front this time.”

Antonio Fresu took the opening maiden on Ibrahim Aseel’s ES Rubban.

“He’s a nice horse and ran very well in Sharjah [second on racecourse debut] over five furlongs,” the winning jockey said.

“Obviously today’s extra furlong and on the grass was a nice win. He gives me a nice impression and can turn out to be a good horse.”

The Polish champion jockey Sczcepan Mazur rode the first of the two winners for Al Hadhrami in the next.

“He has won here over seven (furlongs) and over five on the dirt in Al Ain, and he was one of the better older horses in the field tonight,” Mazur said of the eight-year-old son of Big Easy.