Abu Dhabi: James Doyle scored the biggest win of his fledgling career when he steered the Dhruba Selvaratnam-trained Jaasoos to victory in the President's Cup (Listed) race for Thoroughbreds at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club yesterday.
It was Doyle's 12th win in his debut season here in the UAE and the young jockey was delighted as it was his first success in a Listed race.
While National Day Cup winner Il Grande Maurizio, with three wins under his belt for the season and bidding to complete an Abu Dhabi hat-trick, started as the favourite, yesterday's field in the Dh184,000 President's Cup had attracted some fancied runners.
But Jaasoos, beaten by half a length by the Ali Rashid Al Raihe-trained Il Grande Maurizio, made up for his two close losses this season to score a convincing win with Escape Route under Richard Mullen finishing over two lengths behind the Selvaratnam winner.
It was a fourth win here on the Abu Dhabi turf for Jaasoos, which has tasted success in the last four seasons including two National Day Cup (Listed) wins in the previous two seasons.
Bad draw
"He should have won his last two starts in Meydan and here in the National Day Cup but had a bad draw and got beaten narrowly," Selvaratnam said.
"He can handle a mile and we will look at some races in the Carnival," the Jebel Ali Stables handler said.
Doyle was delighted with his success and said, "This is my first Listed race win in my career and I am enjoying it so far here this season. This is my 12th win.
"Last time it was the draw which affected his chances but today he proved he is a better horse coming from a good draw," said Doyle.
Earlier Tadhg O'Shea completed a quick double winning both the Fillies and Colts Classic races.
Riding the Eric Lemartinel-trained AF Al Hemah, O'Shea had it easy in the opening race, winning by over four lengths from Sawbah under Harry Bentley.
After winning the Colts Classic (Prestige) race, O'Shea made no mistake in the Abu Dhabi Colts Classic (Prestige) on Okba, trained by Emirati handler Mohammad Al Katbi.
RESULTS
1. Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic (Prestige) UAE-bred PAs, Dh 100,000, 8F:
1.AF Al Hemah (Eric Lemartinel) Tadhg O'Shea; 2.Sawbah (Anthony Manuel) Harry Bentley; 3. Shajaret Eddor Al Reef (Majed Al Jahouri) Jesus Rosales.
Time: 1:46.45; Distances: 4L, 3.50L
2. Abu Dhabi Colts Classic (Prestige)UAE-bred PAs,Dh 100,000, 8F:
1. Okba (Mohammad Al Ketbi) Tadhg O'Shea; 2. AF Sanadek (Eric Lemartinel) Gerald Avranche; 3. Al Waqqad (Anthony Manuel) Harry Bentley.
Time: 1:46.11; Distances: Head, Length
3. Abu Dhabi Championship (Listed) PAs, Dh 150,000, 8F:
1.Mestor (Ali Rashid Al Raihe) Royston Ffrench; 2. Daffagh Al Asayl (Ernst Oertel) Wayne Smith; 3. Shahryar (Ernst Oertel) Patrick Cosgrave.
Time: 1:45.21; Distances: 0.75L, 11.75.
4. HH The President's Cup, (Listed) Thoroughbreds, Dh 184,000, 7F:
1. Jaasoos (Dhruba Selvaratnam) James Doyle; 2. Escape Route (Satish Seemar) Richard Mullen; 3. Finjaan (Doug Watson) Tadhg O'Shea.
Time: 1:22.59; Distances: 2.25L, 4.50L
5. Wathba Stud Farm Cup (For Private Owners), PAs, Handicap 00-40, Dh 40,000, 6F:
1. Maram (Mohammad Al Shamsi) Salima Al Taleei; 2. Muntasir Al Ain (Saifaldin Deeb) Royston Ffrench; 3. Barolo (Hassan Al Hammadi) Harry Bentley.
Time: 1:19.26; Distances: 0.25L, 0.50L
6. Al Reem Island Maiden, PAs, Dh 35,000, 11F:
1. Nawasi Alkeer (Jameel Salman) Carlos Sanchez; 2. Raad W'rsan (Jaci Wickham) Richard Mullen; 3. Keep Er Keen (Anthony Manuel) Patrick Dobbs. Time: 2:35.36.
