The final UAE race meeting of the year 2015 was staged at Al Ain on Saturday evening and jockeys George Buckell and Chris Hayes were both in double form.
The featured 2600m handicap, the opening leg of the Al Ain Marathon Series, was the finale on a seven-race card and, after an arduous struggle, Haanoof eventually prevailed for Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan and trainer Nacer Samiri and completed a brace for apprentice Buckell.
The owner’s Manchester City enjoyed a comfortable Premier League 4-1 victory against Sunderland but this was far harder work for Haanoof who, having led about halfway, looked bea-ten as the pack closed and passed.
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However, Buckell was not for giving up, rousting his mount and cajoling what was, ultimately, a second and victorious effort.
With 300m left, the pair still looked bea-ten but a sustained late challenge, culminating in a final lunge in the last 50m, gained the day.
Buckell said: “He had plenty of good form in the book so we had to be hopeful and has stayed really well. It was a good race and my fellow really relished the conditions.”
Earlier on the card, Buckell had made virtually every yard of the running on the Musabah Al Muhairi-trained Modern History in the only Thoroughbred race on the card, a 1600m handicap.
The duo had basically put their 12 rivals to the sword shortly after halfway and never looked likely to be caught.
Buckell said: “He was rated a lot higher when with Charlie Appleby and Godolphin but it has perhaps taken a while to gauge the best distance and tactics for him.
Haanoof is victorious in the final race at @AlAinRaces giving @GeorgeanBuckell a double. 2nd Sheikh Down, 3rd Hamares.
— Dubai Racing Channel (@DubaiRacingTV) December 26, 2015
“I was positive on him last time in a better race on turf at Abu Dhabi, and, before he tired, he really seemed to relish that so we tried the same here. Again he seemed really happy out in front and it all worked out well.”
Hayes was also celebrating a brace, having visited the winner’s enclosure twice in about 30 minutes. He opened his account for the meeting with victory aboard the Ahmed Al Mehairbi-trained AF Afaal in a 1600m maiden.
The following race, a handicap over the fast and furious 1000m, also saw Hayes victorious, this time aboard Ubu Al Mels, trained on the track by Mohd Ramadan.
Hayes said: “We knew Ubu Al Mels had a big chance and he won that very well. It is, obviously, great to ride a double and AF Afaal was perhaps something of a surprise but the trainer just said to be positive and it worked!”
Hector Crouch was another apprentice to ride a winner, in his case on Chase Me in the opening 2000m handicap for Helal Al Alawi.
RB Rich Surprise, in an 1800m conditions race, and Banan Al Reef, victorious in a 2000m maiden, were the other winners on the card.
