Haazeq passes Jebel Ali test

Haazeq, ridden by Richard Hills, ran a cracker to lead in the concluding stages of the 1800 Jebel Ali Stakes Prep, the highlight of the day, ahead of fast-finishing Meeriss at the Jebel Ali Racecourse on Friday.

The Shadwell-sponsored event attracted a quality field of nine runners headed by the track’s specialist Jet Express, who finished third.

Step In Line made all the running to make it a double for the partnership of national trainer Abdulla bin Huzaim and Argentinean jockey Carlos Sanchez in the 1600m Commercial Bank of Dubai Handicap, fourth race of the afternoon.

The six-year-old gelded son of Giant’s Causeway broke well and went to the lead right from the onset. Kieren Fallon came with a late run aboard Dahteer, but the Step In Line held on very strongly to cross the finish line almost four lengths ahead of the runner-up.

MH Al Wadi set a new 1400m Purebred Arabians UAE Bred track record after winning the Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum UAE Breeders Society Cup, the opening race of the afternoon up the hill.

The only Arabian event on the card drew a full field of 16 runners lining up for honours. Stable companion AS Muheeb started a public favourite under Rory Cleary, but he finished a disappointingly 12th.

MH Al Wadi clocked 1.35.98 seconds to lower the figure of stable companion AF Al Ghabra that was 1.38.14 seconds by nearly three seconds.

Mosho Bello ran very strongly in the hands of Willie Supple to take second and the mount of Jesus Rosales, Ragdan was third.

In the second race, Al Marmoom showed great speed to land the 1400m Al Shafar Investment Thoroughbreds Handicap trophy.

The four-year-old colt of Medaglia D’Oro was not among the top four public favourites to win the race. But, contrary to early expectations, Al Marmoom left the machines very quickly and raced keenly on far side to make virtually all and prevail by three lengths before being eased close home.

Kala Kanta, ridden by Harry Bentley for trainer Zabeel’s trainer Satish Seemar, won the fifth race. Alsadeeq under Patrick Dobbs won the 1000m Al Shafar Group Conditions for trainer Doug Watson.

Results

Race One: 2.05pm Purebred Arabians UAE Bred Conditions 100m (a 8f) sponsored by Emirates Horse Breeders’ Society. Purse: Dh40,000

1. MH Al Wadi (Gillian Duffield) Harry Bentley 2. Motsho Bello (Bakhit Al Ketbi) William Supple 3. Ragdan (Jaber Bittar) Jesus Rosales

Time: 1.35.98. Distances: 2.25L/ 1.25L

Race Two: 2.35pm Thoroughbreds Handicap 1400m (a 7f) sponsored by Al Shafar Investments. Purse: Dh65,000

1. Al Marmoom (Abdulla bin Huzaim) Carlos Sanchez 2. Kessra (Dhruba Selvaratnam) 3. Lord Ego (Doug Watson) Patrick Dobbs

Time: 1.24.67. Distances: 2.75L/ 3L

Race Three: 3.20pm Thoroughbreds Conditions 1800m (a 9f) sponsored by Al Shadwell Farm. Purse: Dh120,000

1. Haazeq (Ali Rashid Al Raihe) Richard Hills 2. Meeriss (Dhruba Selvaratnam) Daragh O’Donohe 3. Jet Express (Ali Rashid Al Raihe) Royston Ffrench

Time: 1.50.93. Distances: 0.75L/ 1L

Race Four: 3.50pm Thoroughbreds Handicap 1600m (a 8f) sponsored by Commercial Bank of Dubai. Purse: Dh100,000

1. Step In Line (Abdulla bin Huzaim) Carlos Sanchez 2. Dahteer (Dhruba Selvaratnam) Kieren Fallon 3. Ramadi (Ali Rashid Al Raihe) Ahmed Ajtebi

Time: 1.38.07. Distances: 3.75L/ 3.5L

Race Five: 4.20pm Thoroughbreds Handicap 1600m (a 8f) sponsored by GEMS. Purse: Dh80,000

1. Kala Kanta (Satish Seemar) Harry Bentley 2. Street Talk (Abdulla bin Huzaim) Jesus Rosales 3. Seeking An Alibi (Abdulla bin Huzaim) Carlos Sanchez.

Time: 1.39.69. Distances: 1.25L/ NS

Race Six: 4.55pm Thoroughbreds Handicap 1000m (a 5f) sponsored by Al Shafar Group. Purse: Dh110,000

1. Alsadeeq (Doug Watson) Patrick Dobbs 2. Terrific Challenge (Satish Seemar) Richard Mullen 3. Hammadi (Doug Watson) Wiiliam Supple.

Time: 1.12.44. Distances: