Mashaahed Sprints to Glory

Having caught the eyes at the paddock to win the best turned out horse Trophy, the Erwan Charpy-trained battled fiercely in the concluding stages ahead of the mount of William Buick, Meeriss and Noisy Silence under Richard Thomas when it mattered close home. “Richard was pleased with his last run at a shorter distance at the same venue and said the horse didn’t have his best trip by the time and he will be fitter in his second star,” said jubilant trainer Erwan Charpy who won this race on various occasions, including Singing Poet triumph in 2008.

“I’m quite pleased with Singing Poet who has been away from the track for a long time and last year he wasn’t the horse he was,” he said.

The opening race of the afternoon was brilliantly won by the Latin American jockey Carlos Sanchez who guided Landowner ahead of the Al Asifa duo Graymalkin and Balierus.

Top Irish jockey Kieren Fallon made the most welcome return to the UAE races aboard Brave Mambo, but the King Mambo colt didn’t prove brave enough to give his rider a winning start.

Jet Express has just failed to set a new track record after the Jet Master horse registered 1.36.99 seconds, only 0.51 seconds behind the 1.36.48 seconds ran by Alhasad under Richard Hills in 2001.

Unbeaten in his last three starts, Jet Express under Royston Ffrench released an extraordinary high speed up the hill to win the Meydan Horizons Cup, Jebel Ali Mile Prep by more than six lengths before being eased close home. Trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihee commented: “He’s in best form and I expected him to win easily. The race wasn’t difficult for him and had he faced any challenge he would have smashed all the records.”

Royston Ffrench completed a double aboard Celtic King in the fourth race, a seven furlong contest, the Meydan Godolphin Parks Cup before he completed a treble astride Montpellier in the fifth race.

Wane Smith claimed the final race aboard Belpasso to make it a double delight for the local trainer Musabah Al Muhairi.

hisham@khaleejtimes.com

Results

Race One 2.30pm Meydan Cup Thoroughbreds Conditions 1400m (a 7f). Purse: Dh45,000: 1. Landowner (Abdullah bin Huzaim) Carlos Sanchez 2. Graymalkin (Mubarak bin Shafya); William Supple 3. Saboteur (Abdullah bin Huzaim) Carlos Sandoval.

Distances: 4.25L/0.5L Time: 1.27.01

Race Two 3pm Meydan Horizons Cup Jebel Ali Mile Prep Thoroughbreds Conditions 1600m (a 8f). Purse: Dh72,000: 1. Jet Express (Ali Rashid Al Raihe) Royston Ffrench 2. Estihdaf (Ali Rashid Al Raihe); Tadhg O’Shea 3. Taqdeyr (Abdullah bin Huzain) Carlos Sanchez. Distances: 6.25L/0.5L Time: 1.36.99

Race Three 3.30pm Jebel Ali Stakes Thoroughbreds (Listed) sponsored by Meydan 1950m (a 9.75f). Purse: Dh500,000: 1. Mashaahed (Erwan Charpy) Richard Hills 2.Meeriss (Dhruba Selvaratnam) William Buick 3. Noisy Silence (Anthony Manuel) Richard Thomas; Distances: 0.5L/SHD Time: 1.58.30

Race Four 4pm Meydan Godolphin Parks Cup Thoroughbreds Handicap sponsored by Meydan 1400m (a 7f). Purse: Dh80,000: 1. Celtic King (Musabah Al Muhairi) Royston Ffrench 2.Canwin (Dhruba Selvaratnam) William Buick 3. Bab Al Bahrain (Rashed Al Bouresly) Alan Munro; Distances: 4L/2.75L Time: 1.24.31.

Race Five 4.30pm Meydan Metropolis Cup Thoroughbreds Handicap sponsored by Meydan 1400m (a 7f). Purse: Dh100,000: 1. Celtic King (Ali Rashid Al Raihe) Royston Ffrench 2.Canwin (Dhruba Selvaratnam) William Buick 3. Bab Al Bahrain (Rashed Al Bouresly) Alan Munro; Distances: 4L/2.75L Time: 1.24.31.

Race Six 5pm The Meydan Hotel Cup Thoroughbreds Handicap sponsored by Meydan 1000m (a 5f). Purse: Dh65,000: 1. Belpassoo (Musabah Al Muhairi) Wane Smith 2. Impenetrable (Ali Rashid Al Raihe) Royston Ffrench 3. .Effort (Abdullah bin Huzaim) Carlos Sandoval. Distances: SHD/HD Time: 59.72