Al Ain: In the feature event of racing at Al Ain Racecourse on Friday, the 2000m handicap saw lead changing hands at least three times in the final 500m.
RB Goliath took up the running at about halfway, but was immediately challenged for the lead by AF Mahshoum, who passed him briefly before RB Goliath regained the initiative once he was then able to hold on to until headed passing the 200m pole by RB Rich Surprise. Meanwhile, BF Mughader was able to challenge between, snatching the lead with about 100m left and staying on well to land the spoils.
It had not looked a likely victory when, after veering left at the start, BF Mughader found himself last of the ten runners but Antonio Fresu, riding for Ebrahim Al Hadhrami and completing a double, did not panic; he let his mount find a good rhythm before making steady progress throughout the straight. A winner once on dirt in his native Oman, BF Mughader won on his third and previous UAE outing, all on the Abu Dhabi turf, before switching surfaces here.
“He has not had that much racing and we were happy the surface would suit him. He won at Abu Dhabi over 2200m, so the distance was never going to be a problem. It was a good performance by horse and jockey,” said Al Hadhrami.
Just 30 minutes later, the trainer was celebrating a double when Al Mobher landed a 1600m maiden, winning for the first time at the eighth attempt. Owned by The Omani Royal Cavalry, it was a belated first winner of the season for jockey Adrie de Vries.
“Obviously it is nice to get that winner on the board after a quiet start,” de Vries said. “Hopefully I can add to that now, especially with the Carnival at Meydan about to start.”
