Dubai: Emirati handler Musabah Al Muhairi’s run of red-hot form continued on Friday at Jebel Ali’s final meeting of the season as he saddled a brace of winners to clinch a maiden UAE Trainers’ Championship.
After enduring several frustrating years as the perpetual bridesmaid of UAE racing, the likeable Oasis 1 Stables supremo wrapped up the championship with 45 winners, four clear of his closest rival Doug Watson. Satish Seemar and Salem Al Katbi were joint third on 33 wins.
The jockeys’ title was also sewn up by talented Zabeel Stables rider Richard Mullen when he rode Al Razi to victory in the Shadwell Farm Conditions Stakes over 1,400m, taking his tally for the season to 44, five ahead of defending champion Tadhg O’Shea.
“I feel very fortunate to have such a good team back home who do all the hard work and I owe this success to them,” said Al Muhairi. “It sure took a long time, but in the end I am happy to have finally won the title. It means a lot to me and all my staff.
“Obviously, Silvestre [de Sousa] was the key this year. He’s a very talented jockey and we were very luck to secure him as a stable jockey. He definitely deserves the credit as well and we hope to continue with him next season.
“A victory at the Dubai World Cup will make this even more special.”
Al Muhairi saddles leading chances including Tamarkuz in the Godolphin Mile (G2) and Muarab and Shaishee in the Golden Shaheen (G1).
Mullen, who was winning his first UAE jockeys’ title, said: “It has been a wonderful season and our horses have been in great form throughout.
“Obviously I am delighted to be champion jockey, but without Satish and his team I would not be in this position.
“It is a real team effort at Zabeel Stables and this is a great reward.”
Al Muhairi has made it a habit of winning the feature event at Jebel Ali and he did it again on Friday, when Interpret landed the Shadwell Conditions Stakes under an outstanding ride by De Sousa. Pit Stop finished strongly for Oisin Murphy but was denied by a neck.
“He definitely saves his best for Jebel Ali,” said De Sousa. “He broke very well today and I was always travelling nicely, which is not always the case with this fellow.
“I was pretty confident throughout the home straight and it is great to help the boss be confirmed champion trainer.”
Paul Hanagan, riding Rafeej for his main employer Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, gave Al Muhairi his second winner of the afternoon when winning the Derrinstown Conditions Stakes.
“He is a horse we have always really liked,” said Al Muhairi. “This is actually his first start here at Jebel Ali and he has handled it very well.
“It has been a great season and I am delighted to win the title after several seconds in recent years.”
Watson, who has enjoyed one of his best season in recent years, won the opening race on the card, the Shadwell Farm Handicap with Insaany.
“We stepped him up from 1600 metres, thinking the extra distance would suit him,” said Watson. “Paul has given him a great ride and he will hopefully be a nice horse for us next season.”
De Sousa, who was in double-winning form, earlier partnered Ahmad Bin Harmash’s Oromindo to a comfortable victory in the Derrinstown Stud Conditions Stakes.
“The trainer said he would run well and was right,” said De Sousa. “He has run on strongly and it was a decent performance.”
