Jaber Bittar was the trainer to follow at Abu Dhabi yesterday evening, saddling the winners of both the Abu Dhabi Fillies’ Classic and the Abu Dhabi Colts’ Classic, both over 1,600m.
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The six-race card commenced with the Abu Dhabi Fillies’ Championship and the Bittar-trained Nawarat Al Reef was produced to lead in the dying strides by Jesus Rosales.
Third on her only previously start, at Sharjah, this was a big step up and Rosales said: “We knew she would improve from her debut and she proved that here this evening. Hopefully she can improve again.”
Bittar was back in the winner’s enclosure 30 minutes later after Meftah Al Reef landed the colts’ equivalent, the Abu Dhabi Colts’ Championship, with Wayne Smith in the saddle on this occasion.
Smith said: “I was always happy tracking the early speed and, when I asked, he picked up nicely. How strong a race it was I do not know but he won well enough.
“The Bittar team have been in great form all season so I knew I had a half decent chance coming into the race – albeit perhaps not on the stable’s first string.”
The official feature, the Group 3 Abu Dhabi Championship, also over 1,600m, went the way of AS Enjaz, ridden by Silvestre de Sousa and losing his maiden tag at the third time of asking.
De Sousa said: “It was a decent performance in a seemingly decent race. He can only improve from this and hopefully there is more to come as that was a good effort in what appeared a good little race. ”
The only Thoroughbred race on the card, a 1,400m handicap, went to Royal Revival, a first winner of the season for apprentice Marc Monaghan, riding for his boss Satish Seemar.
Elsewhere on the card, Sam Hitchcott won the 1,600m maiden for Bakhit Al Ketbi aboard Barek W’Rsan.
Hitchcott said: “Any spare rides are always welcome and luckily this was a winning one.”
Eric Lemartinel combined with Gerald Avranche to land a 1,200m handicap with Ain Jaloot, and Avranche said: “I am always happy to come here to Abu Dhabi and ride for Eric because I know I will have the chance of a winner.”
