Abu Dhabi: Dylan Dunn, a 21-year-old Australian apprentice, rode Qader, owned by Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, brilliantly to clinch the HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice Jockey Championship by virtually making every yard a winning one.
Dunn, the leading apprentice jockey from Victoria with 121 winners, was clearly the most experienced jockey in the field. His seven-and quarter-lengths victory over second placed Ameer Al Reef spoke volumes of his dominant win. Snaffy, ridden by Eric Lemartinel, was third another one-and-three-quarter lengths behind.
“I was thrilled to be here and to get the winner means all the more. It wasn’t for Shaikh Mansour and for Jean (De Roualle) for training the horse, I wouldn’t be here. It is only the beginning of something more special to come. This will not only improve Arabian Racing but hopefully it spreads the word and it becomes as big as Thoroughbred racing,” said a jubilant Dunn after winning the fourth event of world’s richest Purebred Arab racing night on Sunday.
Seven-year-old Shammal Nibras, owned by EERC, trained by American born Dubai based reigning UAE champion trainer Doug Watson and ridden by Patrick Dobbs won the only Thoroughbred race of the evening – AED 125,000 UAE Martyrs’ Cup.
Dobbs made his move hundred yards from finish to lead Shammal Nibras to victory by one-and-three quarters of a length ahead of Invincible Strike ridden by Richard Mullen. Harry Bentley on-board Championship was third another three-quarter-length behind.
“He was just hanging back and as a seven-year-old he has trained well. I hope he can also do well in the National Day Cup,” said a beaming Watson.
Owner-breeder Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooba had success straightaway as the evening kickstarted with the UAE Martyrs’ Trophy for maiden four-year-olds and older bred in the UAE over 1200m.
Al Nabooba’s AF Mukhifah, ridden by Richard Mullen and trained by Ernst Oertel, clinched the opener comfortably. AF Mukhifah took the lead in the final bend to piped stablemate AF Khafajeh by two-quarter-lengths. Finishing on third spot, another one-and-half-lengths behind, was S.S. Heyam ridden by Silvestre De Souza.
Al Nabooba colours were again fluttering high at the capital course after IBN Harmony Al Zobair, ridden by South African Lyle Hewitson, stole the thunder on his UAE debut in the Wathba Stud Farm Cup for Private Owners.
IBN Harmony Al Zobair was challenged to the post by Extra Hope but the former held on by a head to give Hewitson his 100th career win. AF Al Asef, ridden by Fernando Jara, was third.
“It is simply amazing to win in a race where there were top jockeys. It was really a close race and it was fantastic to come out on tops. It was my first ride here in the UAE and to end up completing the 100th career win was special,” said an ecstatic Hewiston.
