Seemar doubles up

Dubai: Former champion trainer Satish Seemar has made a strong start to the 2009-2010 UAE racing season by bagging a double at yesterday's opening race meet at Jebel Ali Racecourse, with the help of jockey Richard Mullen.

The Zabeel Stables handler, a four-time winner of the UAE trainer's championship, picked up pleasing back-to-back wins on a bright and sunny afternoon.

Ibn Al Nafis, an unraced three-year-old, made a dream debut when producing a spirited run to hold off the challenge of Bur Dubai in the Shadwell-sponsored thoroughbred maiden over 1,200 metres.

Mullen was back in the winner's enclosure 30 minutes later but not before having to really earn his mount fees.

Mullen, aboard Seemar's Escape Route, needed to pull out all the stops to deny the Rod Simpson-trainer Surprise Package, who lived up to his name.

Escape Route appears to like the Jebel Ali track, having won a similar handicap at the course in March, under Irish rider Robert Burke.

Earlier, champion trainer Doug Watson wasted no time to open his account for the season when he sent out Alsadeek, another previous winner at Jebel Ali, to bag the opening thoroughbred handicap.

Ridden by Tadhg O'Shea, the four year old cantered home an effortless winner. Rawalbandie, ridden by Royston Ffrench for owner-trainer Rashid Bouresly, finished second 11 dusty lengths behind the impressive Alsadeek.

Feature race

The feature race of the day, a 1,400-metre handicap also sponsored by Shadwell, was claimed by the Ali Rashid Al Raihe-trained Estihdaaf, to give O'Shea a meet double. Estihdaaf won at this course in January and looks like another horse to follow for the season.

Abdullah Bin Huzaim, who is based at the Emaar Stable, was quickly off the mark with Seeking An Alibi, a 4.25 length winner of a 50-70 handicap of a mile, while fellow Emirati trainer Musabah Al Muhairi took the concluding race of the day with Seabow, the mount of Wayne Smith.