Review (UAE): Al Ain Friday Feature
Sub title - Mahfouz Denies AF Al Jahed
Racing at Al Ain on Friday was highlighted by a 1600m handicap for which seven went to post but only three ever managed to challenge with AF Al Jahed leading the whole way, seeing off RB Goliath early in the straight, only to be denied right on the line by an old rival in Mahfouz.
The pair had clashed in the 1700m Ruler Of Sharjah Trophy last year when Mahfouz just prevailed and it was the same again, the horse putting his head in front in the dying strides under a strong drive from Tadhg O’Shea, partnering his 449th UAE winner. It was a second winner on the card for Eric Lemartinel, who trains at Al Asayl primarily for HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who owns both winners.
“We think he is better on the sand so this looked the ideal race for him,” Lemartinel said. “We had already beaten the second horse, at Sharjah, last season in their big race, the Ruler Of Sharjah Trophy, and that will be his next target again.”
Earlier his stable companion, the same owner’s progressive Mukaram, ridden by Gerald Avranche, completed a hat-trick on just his fifth career start, in the stronger of two 1800m handicaps. Unraced before November, he has improved with each outing, winning an Al Ain 1600m maiden on his third start before a conditions race over the same trip at Jebel Ali.
He seemed to build on that again here and Lemartinel said: “This is a very young horse who had not run before this season and has now won twice here as well as at Jebel Ali. Both his previous wins were over 1600m but, as we all know, Jebel Ali is a severe stamina test at the trip so we knew the 1800m here would suit him. We were pretty confident coming here and we will bring him along slowly but he is a nice horse for the future.”
Having just his 20th mount of the season, Harry Bentley opened his account for the campaign, combining with Ali Rashid Al Rayhi to land the only Thoroughbred race, a 2000m handicap, with Hello. Originally the first reserve, Bentley’s mount took full advantage of the late opportunity but was forced to work hard to deny the renewed challenge of Broadcloth who he headed 300m out but fought back gamely. Hello just held on posting a second career success, having made a winning debut over 1600m at Jebel Ali for Doug Watson in December 2016.
This was his sixth start since joining Al Rayhi this season and the Emirati trainer said: “We were delighted when there was a non-runner to give Hello the chance to run as we thought he had a good chance. He ran well here on his one previous start at Al Ain, last time, over 1400m and we knew this longer trip was in his favour.”
By Ritesh Jamkhedkar - ritesh.jamkhedkar@secretariatsworld.com