Abu Dhabi: Godolphin jockey Silvestre De Sousa led Areem to a comprehensive victory in record time for Emirati trainer Majed Al Jahouri and owner Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Presidential Affairs, in the fifth Group-1 prize for Purebred Arabians at the Abu Dhabi Racecourse on Sunday.

Areem thus earned revenge over stable companion Rakha, who had won the event last year in a track record time of 1:27.64. Sardan completed the top three for Shaikh Mansour.

“Areem has done his job for the season. We planned three Group-1 races for him and he’s won two. If he stays healthy, we will have a similar plan for him next season,” Al Jahouri said.

“We may bring Rakha back for another race, perhaps, in the feature race in Al Ain’s final meeting on March 20,” Al Jahouri added.

The highlight of Sunday’s fixture was the Arabian Triple Crown R2 race. It kept everyone interested for 15 minutes after the race as an objection was raised for interference by champion jockey Tadhg O’Shea. Champion trainer Ernst Oertel and O’Shea on Nymphea Du Paon were awarded the race after the stewards upheld the objection.

Swwing took second while Burj Khalifa, another half-length back, was third.

Review

Ted Durcan on Swwing had won the race but O’Shea called for a review.

As the action was repeatedly shown on the giant television screen, it became clear that Swiing had bumped into Nymphea Du Paon just 200 metres from finish. Despite that, O’Shea remained undeterred and led Nymphea Du Paon back into the lead before being beaten by Swwing at the finish by a short head.

The victory also helped trainer Oertel go level with Musabah Al Muhairi at the top of the Trainers’ Championship with 31 victories.

Oertel had earlier seen his jockey O’Shea winning the opener 1,400m aboard Dormilon.

“You see justice was done at the end,” said Oertel, who celebrated with his team when the decision was given in their favour.

“She is a long-striding filly and that’s the reason we adopted the front-running tactic. The interference broke her momentum. She is a good-hearted filly. The plan now is to give her another run before the long summer ahead. Perhaps the UAE Arabian Derby on March 16 will be one of the options.”

Trainer upset

Having been stripped of the title upset trainer Eric Lemartinel who said: “In my opinion, the best horse won on the night. It is true my horse hung [in], but he rallied back to cross the finishing line first after the filly had got in front.”

Lemartinel was, however, rewarded later after Durcan handed him a winner in the 1,000m handicap by riding AF Asefah to victory.

In the only thoroughbred race on the cards, the 2,200m maiden was won by Covert Desire under Harry Bentley for Emirati trainer Esmail Mohammad.