Abu Dhabi: Salem Al Ketbi-trained Abhaar, ridden by Adrie de Vries, led from the front to win the 1,600 metres feature event the Listed Arabian Triple Crown Round 1 from stablemate RB Torch - saddled by Tadhg O’Shea - at the Abu Dhabi Race Course on Sunday.
O’Shea seemed to have picked the wrong horse for the feature event but he was right on Shaheer, who emerged an impressive winner of the opener, a maiden.
“I knew I was picking up a great spare ride. Any horse from the Al Asayl yard has to be respected and this horse just proved that. It was obviously a tough choice for Tadgh O’Shea, who chased runner-up RB Torch,” said an elated Adrie De Vries.
Trainer Salem Al Ketbi, who is covering up for suspended Al Asayl stable trainer Ernst Oertel, had also seen Shaheer win the opening race and he heralded that there was more to come.
“We had three entered in the Triple Crown and expected one of them to win – had a one-two finish and the filly Estourah was sixth. I couldn’t have expected a better result. The first two in the Triple Crown and Shaheer are juveniles open to further improvement. They have shown a lot of promise at work and now on the racecourse,” said Al Ketbi, adding: “Hopefully they can achieve bigger things if they keep well and in good shape. We’ll see how they have come out of these races and go in to the Triple Crown Round 2.”
The race also was incident-packed as Jesus Rosales, Jose Santiago, Harry Bentley and Noel Garbutt were unseated during the running of the Arabian Triple Crown. O’Shea had got his second pick wrong but he was bang on with Shaheer, which won the opening 1600m maiden comfortably.
“Shaheer is a nice horse. This is his local debut but his form in France indicated he was more than useful. He is one we have been looking forward to running. He will have to go up in grade now but clearly merits a stiffer challenge as he had some very good form in France,” said O’Shea.
Trainer Jaber Bittar also saddled a 1-2 with Ameer Al Reef and Jesus Rosales denying stable companion, Sharaf Al Reef and Richard Mullen in a 1400m handicap. The only Thoroughbred race on the card, a 2400m handicap was won by Ukranian, ridden by Royston Ffrench.
“Everything fell into place for him this evening. He won well enough here last time over 2200m and the extra distance today has not been a problem. It is a great start to the New Year,” said Ffrench.
