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Jaafar sprints to glory

Jaafar, ridden by Alan Munro, cruised to an easy victory in the Shadwell Dubai International Stakes Group-1 for Purebred Arabians, the highlight of the final day of the Dubai Summer Festival being held at Newbury on Sunday.

The top class performer, who finished second to the No Risk Al Maury in the same race two years ago, and reversed places with his conqueror in the Dubai Kahayla Classic, did nothing wrong and cantered all the way to cross the finish line ahead of runner up. Jalab Al Khalidiyah for the Saudi Prince Khaled bin Sultan Al Saud finished second as Adjinn D’Aroco claimed the third place honours.

The race was attended by Shaikh hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance.

In the third race, The Emirates NBD Hatta International Stakes (Group-1), a great ride by S A Walker brought Nokomys home a short-head in front of Al Anqa under David Bouland.

Sophia, D. Turner in the saddle, showed the way in the early stages of the race followed by Al Anqa while the hot favourite Nokomys was perfectly poised behind the early speed.

Towards the home turn, the order of running was changed and Al Anqa took the lead in a bid to widen the gap as the pack approached the final two furlong. At this point, Nokomys began to made a steady progress and the brilliant mare responded keenly when asked the question to beat Al Anqa by a short-head at the finish line.

Early in the afternoon, Sophie Doyle partnered Jamaahir to land the 1400Purebred Arabian Emirates Airline Premier Handicap Stakes. The five-year-old gelded son of Makzan raced keenly from the centre of the track before he hit the front in the concluding stages and held on courageously under pressure to beat Dakaran by half a length on the finish line.

In the fifth race, The Emirates Equestrian Federation International Stakes Group-2, Salaamah held on very strongly in the hands of Jean-Baptiste to win by half a length from fast finishing Fawzi.

Placed five times from nine starts, including a narrow second to Benny the Dip (beaten by a nose) over seven furlong, the consistent performer returned to his best to claim a long overdue victory.

In the second race, The Meydan International Stakes hot favourite Mu’azza lived up to his name and ran a cracking race to emerge the easiest of winners in the 2000m round course trip. The six-year-old son of Amer was always going well in the hands and heels of Alan Munro and responded impressively when asked the question in the home straight. Trdarbert, under S. Harrison, walked away with the second place trophy and behind them came the mount of S Walker Genuinely At Risk. Haneen, ridden by Tadhg O’Shea who showed the way right from the onset lost third place close home.