Having saddled trebles at both Jebel Ali’s previous meeting a fortnight ago and Meydan last Thursday, trainer Doug Watson was in double form back at Jebel Ali yesterday, with Shamaal Nibras leading the way in the featured 1,400m handicap.
Pat Dobbs was in the saddle and always looked confident settled in the middle of the eight runners before asking his mount to win his race 300m out. They hit the front soon after and won well.
The double was completed an hour later with Dobbs again in the saddle with Hacienda prevailing in a three-way photo-finish in a 1,600m handicap. The only time they led was where it mattered – on the winning line.
A 1,200m handicap went to Idler, a first winner of the season for trainer Ahmad bin Harmash under Wayne Smith.
The opening 1,800m handicap was won by Mawhub, saddled by Satish Seemar and the mount of Richard Mullen.
The final race yesterday, a 1,600m maiden, supplied the easiest winner of the afternoon with Silver Galaxy opening his account at the third attempt. Silvestre De Sousa was in the saddle for Musabah Al Muhairi.
Meanwhile, course specialist Fantastique MHF, seeking a sixth Sharjah victory, looks to hold a leading chance in the featured 1,700m handicap at the track today.
Trained by Doug Watson for Sheikh Hamdan, he has not visited the winner’s enclosure since February 2011 prior to landing a handicap over the same course and distance five weeks ago.
However, he had shown signs of resurgence when second on his seasonal reappearance before winning by no less than 12 lengths last time under Dobbs. Dane O’Neill takes the ride this time.
