Al Ain: Racing at Al Ain on Friday was highlighted by a 1,600m handicap for which seven went to post but only three ever managed to challenge with AF Al Jahed leading the whole way, seeing off RB Goliath early in the straight, only to be denied right on the line by an old rival in Mahfouz.

The pair had clashed in the 1700m Ruler Of Sharjah Trophy last year when Mahfouz just prevailed and it was the same again, the horse putting his head in front in the dying strides under a strong drive from Tadhg O’Shea, partnering his 449th UAE winner. It was a second winner on the card for Eric Lemartinel, who trains at Al Asayl primarily for The President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who owns both winners.

“We think he is better on the sand so this looked the ideal race for him,” Lemartinel said. “We had already beaten the second horse, at Sharjah, last season in their big race, the Ruler Of Sharjah Trophy, and that will be his next target again.”

O’Shea speaking about the showing said, “We knew there would be a good early pace which would really suit him but it was hard work and I was niggling him a long way out. He stayed on strongly battling well for me and, we managed to get there, just in time.”

Earlier his stable companion, the same owner’s progressive Mukaram, ridden by Gerald Avranche, completed a hat-trick on just his fifth career start, in the stronger of two 1800m handicaps. Not raced before November, he has improved with each outing, winning an Al Ain 1600m maiden on his third start before a conditions race over the same trip at Jebel Ali.

He seemed to build on that again here and Lemartinel said: “This is a very young horse who had not run before this season and has now won twice here as well as at Jebel Ali. Both his previous wins were over 1600m but, as we all know, Jebel Ali is a severe stamina test at the trip so we knew the 1800m here would suit him. We were pretty confident coming here and we will bring him along slowly but he is a nice horse for the future.”

Owner and trainer completed a treble in the concluding 1400m handicap and it was again Avranche in the saddle, this time aboard RB Burning Ash who led in the dying strides to snatch the spoils.