Abu Dhabi: Moonlight Dash gave promising apprentice Hector Crouch his first UAE victory when landing the Al Reem Island Handicap at Abu Dhabi Racecourse on Sunday evening.
Stable apprentice for former UAE champion handler Satish Sheemar, Crouch timed his run to perfection aboard the ex-Godolphin trained seven-year-old to prevail by half a length from Almerzem, the mount of former Dubai World Cup (G1)-winning jockey Fernando Jara.
The youngster was delighted to open his UAE account and said: “It is a great opportunity for me and I am grateful to Mr Seemar and everybody involved. It is obviously special to open my account here and hopefully there are a few more winners to come.”
Eric Lemartinel saddled the first two home in the main Purebred Arabian race, also a 2200m handicap, with Wayne Smith and Estourah denying Tadhg O’Shea and RB Rich Surprise.
“Eric said to be positive on her,” said Smith. “He was certainly right as she has galloped all the way to the line and really fought hard.
“I was briefly headed in the straight but she found plenty and battled back very gamely. It was a nice spare ride and full credit to Eric and his team.”
Meanwhile, Royston Ffrench and Huyam won the Wathba Stud Farm Cup for Private Owners Only after beating back a challenging run from AF Rafia to give UAE trainer Helal Al Alawi a smart win in the Dh 80,000 turf contest. “He always runs a good race this horse,” said Ffrench. “He has taken me there going strongly before the second fought back but I was always pretty confident.”
Huyam was providing Ffrench and Al Alawi a double, the pair having teamed up to win the Al Khubairah Maiden with Wazn.
Having made a winning debut, over 1000m at Sharjah, just over two weeks ago, the Ali Rashid Al Raihe-trained AF Maqayes maintained his unbeaten record in the opening 1400m conditions race.
Never far off the pace under O’Shea, he had to work a lot harder for his victory on this occasion to get past Hakim with the pair apparently having the race between themselves from a long way out.
However, as the line approached, Sattar Al Reef was flying home and little separated the trio at the line with Hakim denied second close home.
“He won well first time,” said O’Shea. “This was a better race but he has shown a determined attitude and is hopefully still improving.
“The 1400m is probably far enough for him at this stage but he is a horse we really like.”
Jockey Chris Hayes has made a very favourable impression in this his first season in the UAE and he produced Munaaf with a telling late challenge to snatch victory in a 1400m handicap.
The winner, trained by Ahmad Al Mehairbi, made relentless late progress to catch Es Maydan who, seemingly, had the race won with as little as 100m to run. “I am really enjoying my time here,” said Hayes. “I am based with Dhruba Selvaratnam and our horses have been running well.
“I have also picked up some nice spare rides, like this one and it is a great experience.
“I thought we were going to get up and we just made it in time with the horse really responding well close home.”
