Al Ain: The Al Ain Mile was the highlight at Al Ain Racecourse on Friday afternoon and proved a memorable occasion for trainer Helal Al Alawi who saddled Aslaan to beat stable companion, RB Goliath, in the 1600m Prestige contest.
The pair had the race between themselves throughout the final 200m when Royston Ffrench and RB Goliath, who had been settled just off the pace, set sail for home.
However, Aslaan and Richard Mullen, who was completing a double, had made stealthy progress throughout the straight and were soon challenging before taking the initiative with 100m remaining.
They galloped on resolutely with Ffrench’s mount keeping on well in second.
“Full credit to connections as the trainer was pretty confident he would run a big race, said Mullen. “He stays a lot further so I knew he would be staying on strongly in the straight and it is great to ride another nice winner for Shaikh Mansour.”
The meeting opened with a 2000m handicap and, following on from a Meydan treble on Thursday evening, Satish Seemar and his stable jockey at Zabeel Stables, Mullen, wasted little time adding to that, combining to land the spoils with Dorhess De Brugere.
Having tracked the pace throughout the vast majority of the race, they hit the front over 300m and kept on strongly to win fairly comfortably.
“The horses are in great form and he responded gamely when I asked him,” said Mullen. “Hopefully, we can continue this good run until the end of the season.”
Mullen completed his second hat-trick in less than 24 hours in the finale, a 1000m handicap, combining this time with Ernst Oertel and owner Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda, celebrating a double, with AF Meeqat.
Gerald Avranche and Al Yaboob were victorious in the only Thoroughbred contest, a 2000m handicap, hitting the front inside the final 150m and running on well to record a first win of the season for his trainer, Ali Jan.
It was also a maiden victory for the horse, on his ninth start and returned to the course and distance of his best previous effort, when runner-up on his seasonal debut in November.
“He did that quite well in the end and seems to like this track,” said Avranche. “He stays well and, now he has won a race, he might be able to build on this next season.”
The 1600m handicap produced a thrilling finish with Avranche and the Eric Lemartinel-trained Bashayer overhauling AF Tathoor and Mullen in the dying strides.