Sport | Horse Racing
13 proves lucky for Captain Rio
Bentley-ridden horse breaks losing streak in first outing at Sharjah club
- By Leslie Wilson Jr, Racing & Special Features Writer
- Published: 00:00 February 5, 2012
- Image Credit: Zarina Fernandes/Gulf News
- Captain Rio, ridden by Harry Bently and trained by Satish Seemar, wins the BlueFrog Trophy sponsored by Al Basti Equiworld at the Sharjah Equestrian and Race Club.
Sharjah: The number 13 proved lucky for Zabeel Racing's Captain Rio who snapped a 12-race losing streak in the UAE in his very first outing at the Sharjah Equestrian Club yesterday.
A five-year-old by Futurity Stakes (Grade 1) winner Cuvee, Captain Rio relished the drop in trip to 1,000 metres and raced prominently for jockey Harry Bently before accelerating to score by a length and a half from Dhabyani Dream, the mount of Royston Ffrench, in the BlueFrog Trophy sponsored by Al Basti Equiworld.
Yesterday's victory was only the second of his career after winning the maiden one at Gulfstream Park in 2009 when previously trained by ex-Godolphin handler Tom Albertrani.
Confident
Bentley remarked: "It has taken him a long while to open his account locally but he had run some good races in defeat in the UAE and he has clearly relished this first look at Sharjah.
"It was only his third career start at 1,000 metres and he was quick from the off and just kept galloping.
"Hopefully this will have done his confidence good and maybe he can build on this, perhaps back at Sharjah if there is a suitable race."
Captain Rio was providing Zabeel Racing's Satish Seemar a 12th success of the season.
The following 2,000 metre handicap for the Forhan Cup sponsored by Al Basti Equiworld, the Mubarak Bin Shafya-trained Busker romped to a four-length victory over Bin Shamardal.
Pat Cosgrave, who was notching his 13th winner of the season, said: "He clearly likes it around here and this dirt surface really suits him. This was a far better race than the one he won before, but that at least showed he likes here at Sharjah.
"It would be nice to think that we could find another race for him here and he has proved this longer trip is not a problem."
Promising
Trainer Doug Watson kept championship leader Ali Rashid Al Raihe in his sights when notching his 25th win of the season when saddling Almajd to win the Purebred Arabian Uptite Poultice Trophy sponsored by Al Basti Equiworld.
Richard Hills who was aboard the winner said: "He is a promising young horse who is learning all the time.
"It takes him a while to get going but he will battle for you when asked and I would like to think he has more to offer with extra experience."
Former seven-time UAE champion jockey grabbed the spotlight when riding a brace of winners.
Durcan first scored aboard the Mohammad Al Katbi-trained Mesk Al Reef in the opening Hartog Cup sponsored by Al Basti Equiworld and repeated the feat with As Satiaa in the Baileys Cup sponsored by Al Basti Equiworld.
The latter was trained by Tony Manuel who was recording his 11th win of the season.
Durcan said: "It has been a good afternoon and I arrived thinking I had a few reasonable chances but to get a double is probably more than I could realistically have hoped for."
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