The 2015 inaugural running went to Qatar and Kalino but he never threatened this time, finally finishing a well beaten 11th behind winner RB Burn, trained at Al Asayl by Eric Lemartinel for Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and ridden by the trainer’s French compatriot, Gerald Avranche.
The jockey rode a text book race on the local debutant and was able to settle his mount in fourth, saving ground on the rail but never likely to get trapped for room.
The European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship will continue to receive great support from the Government of Dubai as the tournament will take place for the eighth time from November 17 to November 20 at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
European Tour players battle it out in 47 tournaments in 27 destinations across five continents in the season-long Race to Dubai campaign to book a place in the year-ending DP World Tour Championship.
Since the inaugural event in 2009 a Government of Dubai committee has been overseeing arrangements for vital services and logistics at the tournament such as policing and security, traffic control, health and safety, medical support, access and emergency evacuation procedures.
All Government of Dubai authorities including the Dubai Health Authority, ambulance services, Civil Defence, Dubai Police, fire and emergency services, Roads and Traffic Authority, security and health and safety officers and trakhees are essential in making sure the DP World Tour Championship is as safe as it is enjoyable.
“Once again we thank all the Government of Dubai entities for their continued support enabling the tournament to run as smoothly as possible,” said Nick Tarratt, director of European Tour International.
“This year is the eighth edition of the DP World Tour Championship and we have gratefully received local Dubai sanctioning from Dubai Tourism, Dubai Sports Council and the Emirates Golf Federation.”
Fabulous support to continue Saudis have plenty of reasons to celebrate Smoking the field: RB Burn triumphed in the world’s richest Purebred Arabian horse race last night in the UAE capital. Arab world’s finest: Team Saudi Arabia. United: Dubai’s various authorities.
Fine double for Eric Lemartinel wins big in Abu Dhabi thanks to RB Burn and RB Dixie Burning Exiting the home turn, he switched out and RB Burn responded well, accelerating in style, hitting the front 200m out and soon well in control.
Avranche said: “I did not want to get to the front too soon so was happy to take my time. Since joining us, his work had been good so we were hopeful and it is great to win such a big prize.”
Half an hour earlier, Lemartinel initiated a 1600m double when saddling RB Dixie Burning to win the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship under Catherine Walton from England.
Owned by Sheikh Khalifa, Walton’s mount looked set to post an easy victory at the top of the straight but was tiring close to home. However, the jockey was not worried and said: “I did not have to get serious on her and she has done that without really being threatened.”
Earlier, 13 young apprentices were in action in the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFHRA) Apprentice Jockey Championship, also over 1,600m and turned into a procession by Qader.
Sporting the colours of Sheikh Mansour and trained by Jean de Roualle on his eighth career start, Qader was actually losing his maiden tag and was never headed under Dylan Dunn from Australia.
Dunn said: “That was amazing and I am so proud to be here representing my country and to win like that is very special and something I will never forget.”
The opening 1,200m maiden was won in smooth fashion by AF Mukhifah, ridden by Richard Mullen for Ernst Oertel and opening her account at the second attempt but first this season.
Oertel promptly doubled up with Ibn Harmany Al Zobair and Lyle Hewitson winning the following 1,200m handicap in which Mullen was second aboard Extra Hope.
Further disappointment then awaited Mullen in the evening’s only thoroughbred race, a 1,600m conditions contest in which he tried to make all aboard Seemar’s Invincible Strike.
The tactics looked likely to work until Pat Dobbs swooped in aboard the Shamaal Nibras just inside the final 200m.
