ABU DHABI // Trainer Salem Al Ketbi and jockey Tadhg O’Shea combined to win the two biggest prizes on the seven-race card on Sunday night at the capital’s racecourse.
Shaheer in the Dh300,000 Group 3 Arabian Triple Crown Round-2 and Abhaar in the Dh110,000 Emirates Colts Classic were both impressive winners.
Shaheer’s victory was a triumph for the Al Asayl Stables, who filled all three placings in the 2,200 metres event for four year olds, and completed the “big race” double.
“Abhaar is probably the best four year old in the yard even as Shaheer was very impressive tonight. They are both UAE bred and that’s amazing,” Al Ketbi’s assistant trainer Veronika Aske said. “Shaheer will stay the Arabian Triple Crown Round-3 distance and he will be back for that race next week. He’s the one that stays (the 2,400m trip) for sure.
“Abhaar can also go for the same race but he has had four runs already and we would prefer to keep him away for the rest of the season, unless we decide to run him at Sharjah (March 14) in a race for the local breds.”
O’Shea on Shaheer took up the running at the 1,000m and won with ease from stable companions Namrod and Arwaah.
Abhaar underlined his status as one of the best local bred juveniles in the country with another scintillating victory to remain unbeaten in four starts.
O’Shea opened up a 10-length lead at the 600m and eased Abhaar towards the finishing line to win by five-and-three-quarter lengths from the Jesus Rosales ridden Sataar Al Reef.
“He’s very good and everything went to plan,” said O’Shea, the UAE champion and stable jockey for the Al Asayl Stables. “He’s a very straight forward ride. He was very good out of the gates. He’s got it all what a good one would have, he travels and he quickens and he was more impressive tonight. He’s a top horse come forward and hopefully there is more to come.”
In the Abu Dhabi Championship Prep, Richard Mullen battled hard on Antinori to win by a neck from Vaasa under Silvestre de Sousa.
“He’s a horse that likes it around here and had won earlier in the season,” said Mullen, who took his win tally to 38, eight ahead of closest challenger O’Shea.
“There was a nice pace on in this race and he travelled extremely well. He had to battle on and he did.
“This horse likes fast ground and likes this sharp track. In fairness to him he ran a big race last time at Meydan and that form would have been strong enough to give him every chance in this race.”
Gerald Avranche rode a double for trainer Eric Lemartinel, winning the fifth race on Ain Jaloot and the final event on Major.
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