Sharjah: The Ernst Oertel-trained Molahen El Alhan made light work of winning the Dh150,000 Ruler Of Sharjah Cup presented by Longines, when romping home a clear-cut five-length winner on Saturday.
The winner added the Sharjah classic to his impressive victory in the Emirates Colts’ Classic victory at Abu Dhabi last month.
For the second successive year, Mh Areeb finished runner-up in the 1700m contest run on a dirt track that was formerly used at Nad Al Sheba.
O’Shea was completing a meet double, having earlier combined with Saifaldin Deeb to win the opening 1200m maiden. It was the first of three new track records on the card.
He looked set for a treble in the concluding Sharjah Marathon, a 2700m handicap, on his mount Forgehill Cezanne — only to be caught in the dying strides by stable companion,
Swyft, the mount of Pat Cosgrave, reined in stable companion Forgehill Cezanne to win the Sharjah Marathon, the concluding race on the card, in track record time.
An impressive winner at Jebel Ali last Friday, the Satish Seemar-trained Glenleven followed up in great style, making virtually all under stable jockey, Richard Mullen in the only Thoroughbred race on the card, a 1200m handicap. Mullen said: “As I explained at Jebel Ali last week, he is a horse we always held in the highest regard but was getting disappointing. That win last week will have done his confidence the power of good and that was impressive today.”
Emirati apprentice Saeed Al Mazrooei made all on Al Jazi W’Rsan for Bakhit Al Ketbi in a 1700m maiden. Challenged persistently throughout the final 700m by numerous challengers, Al Mazrooei’s mount fought off JAP Mahr, who had stalked him all the way, at the 200m pole, only for Abu Dhabi Helwa, Qaitar Al Reef and his own stable companion, Wakeed W’Rsan, to try and pass him.
The jockey, who also had a winner at Al Ain on Friday and now has a career best nine this season, said: “It has been a good season and things have gone well. This horse was really brave today and did not want to be passed.”