Dubai: Globetrotting Beachy Head returned to his happy hunting ground at Jebel Ali Racecourse to win a competitive running of the Derrinstown Stud Handicap in the hands of a confident Saeed Al Marzouei.
Unbraced when previously trained by Godolphin in the UK, the five-year-old son of prolific Darley stallion Shamardal who now races out of Emirati handler Ali Rashid Al Raihe’s championship-winning Grandstand Stables, cantered home a comfortable 4 1/4 length victory in the 1,400 metre contest.
Jebel Ali-trained Bluff finished best of the chasing pack while big-favourite and Godolphin Mile third Cool Cowboy could only manage third place, a further four lengths behind.
Al Mazrouei, who was returning to the saddle following a year of mandatory national service, showed no signs of rustiness as he skilfully guided the winner home.
“This horse runs well here at Jebel Ali,” said a delighted Al Raihe. “We knew he was in good shape and ready to produce a big performance.
“Saeed gave him a good ride and we are very pleased with the result.
“He hasn’t shown us much at Meydan, but we would like to think that he can be a Carnival horse next year.”
All four Beachy Head’s career wins have come at Jebel Ali.
During the off-season he was campaigned in the Wenjiang-Meydan Classic at China’s Jinma Lake in April and the Grade 1 Keeneland Korea Sprint at Seoul in September.
Meanwhile, Kuwaiti owner/trainer Rashed Bouresly continued his strong start to the season when he saddled Salvadori to win the 1,400 metre Al Shafar Investment LLC Handicap.
Salvadori became the first back-to-back winner of the new season having won a 1000m maiden on the opening day of the new season a fortnight ago.
Bouresly said: “He is a nice horse and versatile as we have seen with wins over two trips.
“He stays this 1400m well and the 1000m win did his power a lot of good.
“Hopefully he can win again.”
Reigning champion handler Doug Watson may have been died victory in the feature event with Cool Cowboy but gained compensation when Insanny returned from injury to capture the Arabian 1,800 metre Scandinavian Insurance Co handicap under Sam Hitchcott.
The performance must have pleased Watson, who has had to be patient with the five-year-old of Shamardal who was having his first start since March 2015.
“Insaany had a small setback before the start of last season and is a nice horse,” said the Red Stable boss.
“We could have tried to rush him back but decided to give him plenty of time.
“Before the injury we had thought he might be a Jebel Ali Stakes type of horse so it is great to get him back here with a win.”
Royston Ffrench picked up his fourth win of the season whensteering Fraserburgh to victory in the 1800m Commercial Bank of Dubai Handicap.
Trained by Salem Bin Ghadayer, Fraserburgh was having his fourth local start and second of the season.
“I was very hopeful coming into the race,” said Ffrench. “It was a good run a fortnight ago and with the drop in trip and fitness edge from that run we thought he had a major chance.
“It has been a good start to the season and hopefully it can continue.”
Emirati horseman Esmail Mohammad, who juggles roles training both race and endurance horses, landed the final event of the afterner, the Al Sahel Contracting Company LLC handicap with Intense Effort.
The only Purebred Arabian race on the card, the opening 1400m HH Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum UAE Breeders Society Challenge Sponsored by East Sports Management was won by Dubai-based jockey Richard Mullen and AF Tebiyan.
Trained by Ernst Oertel, AF Tebiyan is bred in the UAE by Khalifa Al Naboodah.
Oertel said: “We were pretty confident coming here as she had been working well and we are very proud of her as she showed a great, battling, attitude.”
