Duffield, Royal Class Take Top Honours

ABU DHABI - Royal Class under Tadhg O’Shea, lived up to his name and got home better in the 1600m Bibi De Carrere Handicap Purebred Arabians second race at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club here on Sunday evening.

By Hisham Al Gizouli

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Published: Tue 2 Feb 2010, 1:02 AM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 5:21 AM

The race is held as part of the fourth day of the Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Festival with 12 horses rated 0-75 going to post.

The Gillian Duffield-trained five-year-old Kesberoy horse produced a strong form to come home better ahead of fast finishing AS Muheeb, ridden by Richard Mullen.

The mount of Wane Smith, Laz’zaz Al Faisal walked away with the third place honours.

In the opening race of the evening, Daragh O’Donohoe partnered No Limit Del Ma to win the 1600m TC Tomtyr Maiden Race in great style.

The Johnny On the Spot colt is trained by Eric Lemartinel on behalf of The President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Trainer Gillian Duffield claimed a quick double in the third race when Ted Durcan brought Jawhara Al Reef home in the 1600m Emirates Equestrian Federation Maiden Race, PA UAE-Bred Fillies and Mares third race on the card.

Jawhara Al Reef caught front runner As Kahila, Gerald Avranche up, close home in a very strong finish.

Meanwhile, Albar Lotois under Gerald Avranche, came from last to first in the 2200m Purebred Arabians Nez D’Or Handicap fifth race to claim the first winner of the evening for trainer Eric Lemartinel. Das Jalabi ran a big race before he ran out of gas in the concluding stages to finish third in the hands of top Irish jockey Wane Smith.

“He won very well. My horse came from a long distance and raced keenly in the home straight to win as he liked,” said the French jockey Gerald Avranche later after the race. The final race, the only Thoroughbreds Handicap on the card, attracted a quality field of eleven runners rated 75-100 in the 2200 metre trip. Kerashan, made all the running under Antioco Murgia to win from the wire to the wire gamely.

The gelded son of former champion Sinndar jumped very quickly from the machine looking for the lead from the word go and travelled very smoothly to sprint home the easiest of winners to the delight of local trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe.

hisham@khaleejtimes.com


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