Abu Dhabi: UAE champion trainer Ernst Oertel took centre stage at the Abu Dhabi Race course with two victories under two different jockeys here on Sunday.
Firstly apprentice William Twiston-Davies led Calleteral to victory in the opening 2200m conditions race — the jockey’s first win in the capital and in the Purebred Arabians. Finishing second, two lengths behind, was stable companion Hab Nessnas, ridden by champion jockey Tadhg O’Shea, while Xavier Ziani on Live Rich came third.
“This was my only ride of the evening and the horse had been off a while. However, the trainer was confident he was fit and ready to run a big race. And he certainly was. It is nice to ride a winner here at Abu Dhabi,” Twiston-Davies said.
Oertel’s second success of the evening came when O’Shea, who had played second fiddle in the first race, came good in the 1,600m handicap on Sheikh Down. This was a second victory of the season for Sheikh Down, who has also been a runner-up twice.
Mh Areeb, ridden by Patrick Gibson, finished just behind, while Adrie de Vries led Noor Einy to third.
O’Shea said: “We just made it — it was very close at the line. Luckily we had our head in front where it mattered. The horse has been very consistent this season, though he is a bit lazy so we put the blinkers on and it has worked.
“Ernst has his team in great form, as we have seen this evening and at Meydan yesterday [Saturday], when Touch Gold registered a deserved win. It is a good yard to be associated with.”
The double took Oertel’s season’s tally to 12 in the capital and 20 overall in the trainers’ title race. He is now trailing Emirati Musabah Al Muhairi by six victories.
In the thoroughbred race of the evening, the 2,200m handicap, Moonlight Dash — trained by Satish Seemer and ridden by Richard Mullen — broke its jinx by claiming victory. Moonlight Dash was a two-time runner-up over the same course and distance, but this time was in a class of his own. Amaan ridden by Paul Hanagan was second, four-and-a-half lengths behind, while Mujrayaat was third.
“He is, hopefully, still improving. He has good form on all three surfaces and we have done well in these races at Abu Dhabi this season,” said a jubilant Mullen after receiving the trophy from legendary former jockey Lester Piggott.
