ABU DHABI // AF Mathmoon produced another imperious display to confirm his superiority over Shateh in the Group 1 Liwa Oasis in the capital on Sunday.
The result extended the five-year-old bay’s tally to five wins from six starts. He was second to Thakif in his other race, Round 1 of Al Maktoum Challenge at Meydan, a Group 1 race, a month ago.
Read also – AF Mathmoon 'hopeful of a big run' as his Purebred Arabian rivalry with Shateh shifts to Abu Dhabi
AF Mathmoon came into the race having beaten Shateh by a length-and-a-half in the Group 3 Baniyas on the dirt at Meydan 17 days ago and won the rematch more authoritatively, although by the same margin.
Musabah Al Muhairi, his trainer, has left owner Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid, the Minister of Finance, to decide where he goes next.
“He has had two races in just over two weeks and won them both very nicely, and now what he does and where he goes next is for the owner to decide,” said the Emirati, who was coming off three victories on Super Saturday at Meydan.
Paul Hanagan, the retained jockey for Sheikh Hamdan who was on-board in his last two starts, kept it simple by settling him behind the Harry Bentley-ridden Shateh until they turned for home in the 1,400-metre race.
The two-time British champion jockey then got to work down the stretch and had his mount in the front at the 200m mark. Shateh finished second ahead of the Tadhg O’Shea-ridden Abhaar.
Elsewhere, Sniper De Monlau avenged his narrow defeat to Mahbooba two weeks ago to claim the Arabian Triple Crown Round 3.
Richard Mullen on Mahbooba ran his rival all the way but could not find that extra bit to get the filly’s head in front against the strong finish of Sniper De Monlau. Ridden by Royston Ffrench, Sniper prevailed by a short head despite drifting across to the left again, as he has done in all his four starts.
“I rode against him in every race and I know what he is capable of and what he does,” Ffrench said. “He’s a horse with massive ability but he does like to go left handed when he gets into the straight. The good thing is he keeps going forward and he puts his best foot forward. Obviously when you are not going straight you lose ground, but he goes forward and that’s the main thing. He has got his quirks but he’s a very talented individual.”
Mullen rode the Satish Seemar-trained Cross Grain to victory in the solitary race for the thoroughbreds to complete a double on the night. The UAE champion jockey had earlier steered Dhamin to win the second race.
Fernando Jara won the final race on Love To Dance for trainer Al Muhairi also to complete a double.
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