With the jockeys describing the ground as ‘soft’ after heavy rain throughout the day, stamina proved to be a key requirement at Abu Dhabi Sunday night.
The featured first round of the Arabian Triple Crown, a Listed contest over 1,600m, was won by Sniper De Monlau, despite the horse trying his best to fritter away his chance by hanging violently across the track just over 200m from home.
However, apprentice Hector Crouch was able to pull his whip through to his left hand and correct his mount’s unorthodox passage towards the line.
Once back in a straight line, they ran on strongly to lead close home for trainer Helal Al Alawi with the horse also losing his maiden tag, albeit at only the second attempt.
A relieved Crouch said: “The horse has plenty of ability but is certainly quirky. He did exactly the same on his first start when he took me very wide.
“He has the potential to be a nice horse.”
The only Thoroughbred contest, a handicap, was also over 1,600m and also won by an apprentice. On this occasion it was George Buckell, who delivered Somalian with a telling challenge down the centre of the track.
The evenings feature, The Arabian Triple Crown R1, was won by @HectorCrouch on Alawi trained Sniper De Monlau. pic.twitter.com/56VIelaDJY
— Erika R. Photography (@erikar_photos) January 3, 2016
Trained by Ismail Mohammed, Buckell’s mount looked an unlikely winner at halfway, when seemingly struggling in last. But he made smooth progress 600m out and switched wide in the straight, and powered home to win comfortably.
Buckell said: “We broke well but then he was just very slow to get going. Once we hit the straight he really picked up and did it nicely in the end.”
The Eric Lemartinel-trained Nashmee could have been called the winner of the concluding 2,200m handicap a long way from home. He was travelling so well under Tadhg O’Shea.
The pair absolutely cruised into contention as the runners left the back straight with O’Shea taking his time before committing for home 500m out.
They never looked likely to be caught but were not as easy winners as AF Tawaq in the opening 1600m maiden. With Richard Mullen in the saddle for trainer Ernst Oertel, he strode home no less than 18 lengths clear of Rasekh.
Mullen said: “I could not believe how far clear we were. I do not know what we have beaten, quality wise, but he could not have done it any better.”
AF Tawaq is owned and bred by Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda, as is AF Al Sally, trained by Musabah Al Muhairi and was victorious in a 1,200m handicap. Winning jockey, Fernando Jara, said: “I like this horse and he has won nicely.”
