Al Ain The Ernst Oertel-trained Forgehill Cezanne reversed the form on stable companion Swyft to win the 3000 metre Al Sarooj Handicap, the UAE’s longest race for Purebred Arabian, at Al Ain Racecourse on Thursday.
Given a great ride by champion jockey Tadhg O’Shea, the winner prevailed by a nose for apprentic Marc Monaghan’s mount.
Raheq, representing the all-powerful Majed Al jahouri stable, was a length and a quarter back in the third for Royston Ffrench.
Forgehill Cezzanne was gaining revenge for his short-head defeat to Swyft in the 2700m Sharjah Marathon last weekend.
Oertel and O’Shea also combined to win the Dh 250,000 Al Ain Mile, the feature event at Al Ain Racecourse fifth and final meeting of the season.
O’Shea was aboard Callateral who recorded a comfortable three-length victory over the Al Jahouri-trained Thakif as favourite Bigg N Rich finished a head behind in third for James Doyle.
Champion was a course and distance winner two weeks ago while Bigg N Rich was the winner of the Prep race for the Al Ain Mile a month ago.
Thankif had previously dead-heated with Rakha in the Group 3 Al Ruwais.
Thakif was third behind Bigg N Rich in the Al Ain Mile Prep a month ago and third in February behind stable companion Rakha who dead-heated in the Group 3 Al Ruwais.
Oertel had earlier saddled Dixie Burning to win the Al Hili Handicap over 1800m. The winner was ridden by stable jockey O’Shea.
Manuel Chaves was a length and three quarters back in second aboard the Ibrahim Al Hadrami-trained Zeyad.
Oertel’s three-timer swelled his champion tally of winners for the season to 46. He has been assured of retaining the title that he won for the first time last season.
O’Shea is also guaranteed the jockey’s crown with 40 winners.
