Abu Dhabi: Jockey Royston Ffrench registered a big double, winning the National Day Cup races for both the Purebred Arabian and Thoroughbred horses at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club here last night.
The Grand Stables jockey first came up with a superb ride on Il Grande Maurizio as the Ali Rashid Al Raihe-trained bay horse staved off a late run by Dhruba Selvaratnam's Jassoos, the latter being denied his third National Day Cup win.
After winning the Listed race for the Thoroughbreds, Ffrench then partnered Sahib Du Clos to shock a fancied field of runners in the Group 1 National Day Cup for Purebred Arabians.
After Dynamite became a late withdrawal after refusing to get into the stalls, it was Zells Fred and Rabah De Carrere which did the early running in the Dh250,000 feature event.
But as the field came into the home stretch, Ffrench, racing on the rails on Sahib Du Clos came up with a driving finish.
The Saif Al Deen Deeb-trained Sahib Du Clos, racing after nearly a year, did very well to finish first, stunning his rivals, while Timadit Al Mels added another surprise by finishing second ahead of Nieshan.
Great double
It was a great double for Ffrench who said: "This is a rare night for me when I have got two big wins and it is not often that it happens like this, so I am delighted."
Commenting on Sahib Du Clos' surprise win, Ffrench said: "They told me that on form he will run a good race. They filled me with confidence and I rode with confidence. It is a great win for the team at the Grand Stand Stables."
Winning owner Faisal Al Rahmani had previously won the National Day Cup with Dynamite, the UAE-bred horse which yesterday caused problems at the loading and ended up being withdrawn.
In the Wathba Stud farm Cup race, a new owner, trainer and jockey struck to score a maiden win.
The Sahbi Rajhi-trained Khalid D'Or , a 4-year-old chestnut colt, which had only a fourth place to show in four starts, did very well to win the 11-furlong handicap, finishing ahead of former Wathba Cup winners AF Dhaham and MH Wafi.
Results
1.The Al Khaleej Conditions, Purebred Arabians, Dh35,000, 7F:
1. Okba (Mohammad Al Katbi) Patrick Cosgrave; 2. Sawbah (Anthony Manuel) Chris Avery; 3. Shajaret Eddor Al Reef (Maid Al Jahouri) Jesus Rosales.
Time: 1:33.35; Distances: 3.75L, 0.50L, 4.50L
2. Ras Al Akhdar Maiden (UAE bred), Dh35,000, 8F:
1. Sama Al Reef (Dr Jaber Bitar) Jesus Rosales; 2. Raad W'rsan (Jaci Wickham) James Doyle; 3. Zman Al Ajayib (Ernst Oertel) Ted Durcan.
Time: 1:48.46; Distances: 2.25L, 2.25L, 0.75L
3. Al Wathba Stud Farm Cup Handicap, 00-55, Dh40,000, 11F:
1. Khalid D'Or (Sahbi Rajhi) Gaetan Faucon; 2. AF Dhaham (Eric Lemartinel) Tadhg O'Shea; 3. MH Wafi (Doug Watson) Richard Mullen.
Time: 2:32.39; Distances: 1.25L, 1.25L
4.National Day Cup (Listed), Thoroughbreds, Dh184,000, 8F:
1.Il Grande Maurizio (Ali Rashid Al Raihe) Royston Ffrench; 2. Jaasoos (Dhruba Selvaratnam) James Doyle; 3. Iguaza Falls (Mubarak Al Shafya) Xavier Ziani.
Time: 1:35.65; Distances: 0.50L, 3.75L.
5. National Day Cup (Group 1), Purebred Arabians, Dh250,000, 8F:
1. Sahib Du Clos (Saif Al Deen Deeb) Royston Ffrench; 2. Timadit Al Mels (Sahbi Rajhi) Carlos Sancez; 3. Nieshan (Eric Lemartinel) David Badel.
Time: 1:46.26; Distances: 3.25L; 1.75L.
6.Baniyas Handicap, 00-70, Dh70,000, 7F:
1. Quite A Show (Doug Watson) Richard Mullen; 2. Sharaf (Samir Hawa'a) Safwan Al Reffai; 3. Shahrudy (Bakhit Al Katbi) Jesus Rosales.
