His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan's Al Asayl Wins Double
The Al Asayl team led by trainer Eric Lemartinel won two of the four contests in which they were represented this week.
They kicked off their brace in what was a third 1600m Purebred Arabian maiden on the card, one which produced a landmark outcome for jockey Pat Cosgrave who, riding Marahib for Sheikh Khalifa and Lemartinel, registered his 100th winner in the UAE.
Owner and trainer promptly completed their double but Cosgrave had to settle for third on RB Burning Ash who, in a three way battle, chased home AF Al Baher, another second for O’Shea, and the gallant Faheeda who dug deep to repel the challenges of both second and third throughout the long straight.
For jockey Olivier Doleuze it was a fourth winner from just 11 rides this season and second at Al Ain having won on Joori last week for the same connections. A 4-year-old filly, Faheeda was doubling her career tally on just her seventh outing having won a 1600m Al Ain maiden in January.
The meeting concluded with a 1000m handicap and it was the turn of Irfan Ellahi to saddle his first winner of the season, JAP Yajoud, who led close home under Royston Ffrench to deny the Al Asayl team a treble and Cosgrave a double.
The opening 1600m maiden, restricted to horses campaigned by private owners, proved a pretty straightforward victory for AF Mo’Assess who was sent straight to the front by O’Shea and was never headed, chased throughout by Reeh Al Janoob who finished runner-up.
Making his seasonal debut, the 5-year-old gelding was having his tenth career start and was another winner for owner Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda and Ernst Oertel who trains the majority of his string.
The lead changed at least four times throughout the home straight in a second 1600m maiden in which O’Shea again attempted to make all, this time aboard AF Fakhama but passed about 500m out by Rasi Al Khalediah II under William Lee.
They were immediately challenged by Taqa who took over at the head of affairs passing the 300m pole only to be passed by AF Al Wojood shortly after. It was the latter, under Elione Chaves, who would gain the spoils but only after a brave effort from Taqa who may well have led again, briefly, close home.
It was a first victory of the season for Chaves, as well as trainer Ahmed Al Shamsi who was saddling a winner for his son, Buti Ahmed Rashed Abdulla Al Shamsi, and the jockey said: I have had three UAE winners now, all here at Al Ain, after two last season so it is a favourite track of mine. Hopefully I can get a few more rides. This was a dirt debut for the horse, on just his third start, and he really seemed to enjoy the surface.
Credit: Emirates Racing Authority