Sunday evening’s Abu Dhabi meeting was, for a local domestic fixture, rather unusual in that neither a jockey nor a trainer managed more than one winner.
However, owner H H Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs of the UAE, was responsible for two winners, highlighted by the victory of Shateh in the 1,600m Purebred version of the National Day Cup Prep race. He was chased home by stablemate Marzooq and ridden by UAE apprentice Saeed Al Mazrouei.
The owner had registered a winner earlier courtesy of the victory of Haanoof, trained by Yousef Al Bloushi and ridden by Pat Dobbs in the opening 1,600m maiden.
Dobbs said: “That was comfortable – I do not think I was ever worried but she was taking a massive drop in class so I was clearly hopeful in advance.”
The Thoroughbred equivalent of the National Day Cup Prep went the way of Master Of War, trained by Dhruba Selvaratnam and ridden by his new stable jockey, Oisin Murphy, the champion UK apprentice jockey.
In a race few were ever seriously able to land a blow, Murphy had his mount settled behind leader Nawwaar for most of the race before the pair challenged 300m out.
Nawwaar, winner of last season’s National Day and HH The President’s Cups, as a result was conceding weight to his seven rivals and had no answer to Master Of War’s well-timed challenge.
Selvaratnam said: “That was a big result as we were sure he would need the run. Briefly, it looked like he would win well but a lack of fitness probably told close home.
“The National Day Cup and, hopefully, the Carnival will be on his agenda.”
Champion jockey Tadhg O’Shea rarely leaves a meeting in the UAE empty handed and registered his almost obligatory winner with Al Shabab in a 1,400m maiden.
Trained by Helal Al Alawi, he was building on the promise shown when third on his recent racecourse debut.
The 1,600m handicap was won by Girl Powerr, ridden by Royston Frrench for trainer Saeed Hadher Al Mazrouei.
Ffrench tried to lead all the way but was briefly headed by HAB Nessnas inside the final 200m. Ffrench’s mount was not for beating though and fought back gamely to lead where it mattered.
