Champion Jockey Tadhg O’Shea was the man to follow at Abu Dhai on Sunday, partnering three winners and a second from only four rides, highlighted by the success of Carbon Dating in the featured 2,200m handicap.
One of five among the 14 runners saddled by Satish Seemar, Carbon Dating was always travelling strongly under his jockey and, once asked for a serious effort halfway up the straight, hit the front and won comfortably.
O’Shea said: “This horse had a breathing issue in the past which was operated on and resolved over the summer. He did that vey nicely tonight and it is a great result.”
The jockey actually won three consecutive races and, 30 minutes after landing the feature, was back in the winner’s enclosure following the hard fought success of MH Tawag in a 1,600m conditions race.
Trained by Elise Jeanne, he showed great fortitude to land the spoils having been headed, as did AF Al Sajanjile, in the concluding 1,600m maiden.
Like MH Tawag, he was headed only to fight back and regain the initiative where it mattered, in his case with Richard Mullen riding for Ernst Oertel.
The O’Shea treble was initiated by RB Rich Surprise, smooth winner of the best Purebred Arabian contest, a 2,200m handicap.
Trained by Eric Lemartinel for Sheikh Khalifa, he was completing a double for owner and trainer following the victory of Eswarah and Gerald Avranche in the preceding 1,400m handicap.
Lemartinel said: “It has been a good evening. RB Rich Surprise will go to Al Ain for a big race next month as his other wins have all been on dirt.”
O’Shea was second in that contest on Al Jazi. The meeting opened with a 1,400m conditions contest with Izz Bladi victorious under Pat Dobbs.
