Royalty dominates as Sheikh Mansour’s horses secure clean sweep

Peter Ward 11:51 03/03/2014
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  • Sheikh Mansour completed a sweep of the podium in the Group 1 Liwa Oasis in Abu Dhabi on Sunday evening.

    Areem, under Silvestre De Sousa, landed the spoils, making all in the 1,400m feature and gaining revenge on stable companion Rakha who beat him in this race 12 months ago.

    Areem could not defend his crown in the Al Maktoum Challenge I but bounced back well here.

    The owner’s third runner, Sardan, completed the placings with Areem breaking Rakha’s track record, set last year, in the process.

    All three are trained by Majed Al Jahouri, who said: “It is a great result obviously and we have had a really good season. At the start of the season I said Areem would runthree times – in the National Day Cup, Al Maktoum Challenge I and here. To win two of his targets is great.”

    De Sousa added: “The Abu Dhabi track really suits him and the 1,400m and 1,600m trips anywhere are his optimum.”

    There was drama in the main support race, the Group 3 final round of the Arabian Triple Crown with Swwing passing the post in front but, after a lengthy stewards’ inquiry, demoted in favour of Nymphea Du Paon.

    The second leg of a double for Champion Trainer Ernst Oertel and Champion Jockey Tadhg O’Shea, Nymphea Du Paon tried to make all but was challenged strongly by Swwing, who came off a straight line, bumping his rival, who had to be reined in by O’Shea.

    Swwing retook the lead, only to be headed close home with the stewards ruling in her favour.

    O’Shea said: “She was brave and very gutsy. The interference definitely cost us as I had to stop my challenge and she is a filly who really gallops. She fought back and I think justice was done in the end.”

    Oertel and O’Shea initiated a double in the opening 1,400m maiden, with Dormilon. Also in double form was trainer Eric Lemartinel, who initiated his brace with Naseem Al Reef under Ted Durcan in a 1,600m conditions race.

    AF Asefah and apprentice Noel Garbutt completed the trainer’s double with victory in a 1,000m handicap.

    The only Thoroughbred race on the card, the concluding 2,200m maiden, went to the Ismail Mohammed- trained Covert Desire, who made all under Harry Bentley. 

    Results

    1,400m maiden – Dormilon 
    1,600m conditions race – Naseem Al Reef
    2,400m Group 3 Arabian Triple Crown III – Nymphea Du Paon
    1,400m Group 1 Liwa Oasis – Areem
    1,000m handicap – A F Asefah
    2,200m maiden (Thoroughbreds) – Covert Desire

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