Dubai: Zabeel Stables apprentice Marc Monaghan claimed the biggest win of his blossoming career, when he unleashed a scintillating ride aboard Take Ten to win a thrilling renewal of Listed Jebel Ali Sprint Sponsored by Shadwell on Friday.
The Irish rider confirmed him status as an emerging talent, when he held his nerve in a tight five-horse finish to prevail by a nose from Paul Hanagan’s Fityan, who in turn had a neck to spare to big-race jockey Silvestre de Sousa aboard the Musabah Al Muhairi-trained Shaishee.
Kilt Rock, a five-time course winner, who was runner up in this race last year, ran an absolute blinder to check in fourth with the Ali Rashid Al Raihe-trained Mujaazef three quarters of a length back in third under Dane O’Neill.
Monaghan, who has ridden a Group 3 winner in his native Ireland, said: “This horse has been running this season without enjoying much luck but things fell into place here. He had shown he handled the dirt so that was never an issue and the fast early gallop has helped him finish strongly.
“To be honest, when we crossed the line I was not sure if we were in front. Luckily we were.”
Monaghan, who is based at Michael Halford’s Copper Beach Stables in Kildare, Ireland, has ridden six winners in the UAE this season.
Seemar, who was notching his third success in the Sprint following Magin Master in 2005 and Spin Cycle in 2011 was delighted and said: “It would be nice to run him in the World Cup night if an invitation for the Al Quoz Sprint was forthcoming. I’m absolutely delighted for the horse and Marc rode a terrific race.”
The Al Muhairi-trained Russian Rock, seeking a record third win in the featured sprint, could only finish seventh while Sholaan, winner of the prep race last month, was a place further back under James Doyle.
Seemar was completing a meet double having saddled Glenleven to victory in the Al Shafar Investment Handicap 30 minutes earlier.
Stable jockey Richard Mullen who was in the saddle said: “We have always thought an awful lot of this horse who works so well at home but, other than his maiden win here, he has been a bit disappointing. He enjoyed the return to 1000m here and can hopefully prove he is as talented as we think he is.”
While Musabah Al Muhairi was denied a third victory in the Sprint with Russian Rock he gained compensation when Stalactite making a winning local debut in the opening 1200m maiden under apprentice Noel Garbutt.
Thee win took the Emirati trainer to 32 winners for the season, but left him two wins adrift of reigning Champion Trainer Ernst Oertel whose Touch Gold won the Commercial Bank Of Dubai Handicap.
The winner was ridden by Daniel Muscutt, a third apprentice to partner a winner on the afternoon and winning on the horse for the third time this season.
The meeting concluded with Serve U handicap, which was won by Paul Hanagan on the Doug Watson trained Jalaa.
The trained was delighted with the form his horses have shown and said: “It’s been a tough season but out horses have been running true to form. We couldn’t be happier.”
The most impressive winner on the card was Ennobled Friend, who lost his maiden tag at the fourth attempt in emphatic style when recording an eight-length victory in the SIS UK Handicap.
The horse was winning on his first start for Emirati trainer Ahmad Bin Harmash.
The is the penultimate meeting of the season at Jebel Ali with the racecourse scheduled to stage its final event on March 21, eight days before the Dubai World Cup meeting.
