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Mccartney steals thunder

Mccartney came from nowhere under apprentice jockey Harry Bentley to smash a quality field of 14 runners in the 1400m HH the President Cup, the only Thoroughbreds contest on the six-race-card at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club on Sunday.

The five-year-old gelded son of the In The Wings raced against the fences and progressed smoothly to take the shortest cut when the pack turned for home to lead by two lengths from stable companion and joint favourite Escape route. The other joint-favourite Jaasoos, ridden by William Buick, was two lengths and a quarter back in third.

Limited Edition, ridden by Wayne Smith, broke well from stall 15 and settled behind the early speed as Bint Milan took the field in a very nice trip around the course. The five-year-old Ezil mare hit the front when the pack hit the home turn and led all the way to prevail by more than three lengths before being eased near post.

In the second race, Burkan Al Asayl made virtually all to win the Abu Dhabi Colts Classic Prestige.

Trained by Phillipe Barbe and ridden by Kieren Fallon in the silks of the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the three-year-old son of Johnny On The Spot was the first to leave the machine and held on very strongly under pressure in the concluding stages of the race.

“He travelled nicely. He broke well from the gate and when the runner up came to me my horse responded keenly. He’s an Arabian horse but his size is big. He’s a good colt,” Kieren Fallon said.

The partnership of Barbe-Fallon went for a quick double after the Irish jockey rode Frynchman to glory in the 1600m Purebred Arabians Abu Dhabi Championship (Listed), the third race of the evening.

Ahmed Ajtebi showed the way aboard Musharref followed on his heels by stables’ companion Aqmaar under Tadhg O’Shea. But the order of running was changed when O’Shea made a smooth progress to lead in the final furlong before Fallon came through to challenge him in a two-horse contest near post and win narrowly.

“He’s very good. He won impressively under pressure,” said the French trainer Phillipe Barbe. The fourth race, a 2200m Purebred Arabians Wathab Stud Farm Cup for Private Owners Only, saw Chris Taylor powering Dubai from last to first to deny the mount of William Supple AF Mursid in the final strides. The final race, a 1400m Purebred Arabians Conditions was won by AF Raad, ridden by Rory Cleary for trainer Karim Aga.

hisham@khaleejtimes.com