Burj Khalifa emerges best

Top jockey Royston Ffrench powers Burj Khalifa to victory in the 2000m Al Jahili PA Conditions race. — Supplied photo

Al Ain City: Top jockey Royston Ffrench teamed up with trainer Salem Al Ketbi to partner Burj Khalifa to glory in the 2000m Al Jahili PA Conditions, the highlight of the fifth meeting at Al Ain racecourse here on Saturday.

“He’s a great horse,” said Royston, who has earlier led Murooj to victory in the preceding race to complete a quick double.
After the quick start, experienced jockey Royston put his mount on the heels of the public favourite Haajeb under UAE apprentice Saeed Al Mazrouei who was on the bridles until the field turned for home with three furlongs to go. At this stage, Al Mazrouei asked his horse to improve, but he found his more illustrious stable companion Royston too good.

In the fourth race, Reeh came from nowhere under David Smith to pip Swwing, the mount of his brother Wane Smith, in a strong finish in the shadow of the post. Swwing was always going well and opened nearly six lengths in front of the rest of the field, but he began to go out of gas in the last furlong before being captured by the fast finishing Reeh in the last 50 yards.
Early in the evening, Silvestre de Sousa took Nichem Al Mels to the inside to race against the fences in the 1800m PA Handicap Al Jimi For Private Owners Only, before he got up in the dying strides to deny Maghazi, under Bahraini apprentice Ali Al Showaikh, on the line. “He’s a tough fighter,” the winning jockey said later.

De Sousa tried to attack the leading group from the centre of the track, but the heavy track forced him to change course and come from the far side. Luckily, Maghazi was able to work his way and put his head first when it mattered.

In the second race, a PA Handicap Falaj Hazza, contested over a mile, Royston partnered bottom weight Murooj to a record breaking victory for his boss Ali Rashid Al Raihe in the silks of Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance. Murooj left the machines very quickly to lead from the wire to the wire authoritatively.

Champion jockey Tadhg O’Shea struck for his new boss Salem Al Ketbi with TM Junior John in the silks of the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in the 1000m Jebel Hafeet PA Handicap.

After winning the opening race, DE Sousa put Conform With Fact on top gear to win the 1000m Al Sarooj TB Maiden, the only thoroughbred event on the card for his boss Musabah Al Muhairi in the silks of Shaikh Saeed bin Mohammed Al Maktoum.