Duffield celebrates double at Abu Dhabi three-race meeting

Abu Dhabi : The special three-race card sponsored by the Ministry of Presidential Affairs proved to be a boon for trainer Gillian Duffield who saddled a double at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club race course here yesterday night.

Last night's races were held in honour of Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow's visit to the UAE and Duffield won both the races for Purebred Arabian horses while Satish Seemar's Montmorency won the Ashgabat Gold Trophy for thoroughbreds.

AF Alghabra, a 5-year-old Amer mare had won both her starts this season on the dirt surface but was stepping up in class against some fancied rivals.

However, Tadhg O'Shea came up with a fine finish on AF Alghabra to give Duffield her first win of the night and deny a pair of runner's from Frenchman Eric Lemartinel's yard.

"She is a sweet little filly. Three starts and three win this season is superb. She travels well, you put her anywhere in the field and she shows a fine turn of foot," said O'Shea after his win.

In the next race Richard Hills won a thriller on Sakre D'Or, the Duffield-trained horse just managing to put a short head before Omayyade Thabet on his final stride to win the Turkmenistan Gold Cup.

In the final race of the night, a 7-furlong handicap for thoroughbreds, Montmorency made it a pillar-to-post victory for trainer Satish Seemar under Richard Mullen.

Doug Watson's Dan Chillingworth came up with a final challenge but Montmorency held on to win his second race in eight starts.

Making amends

"He disappointed us the last time out but this time it worked out well," said Mullen, commenting on his winning horse.

Top weight Bab Al Bahrain, a winner here on Sunday, found the extra weight taxing and finished third.