Dubai: Musabah Al Muhairi completed his second hat-trick in consecutive weeks at Nad Al Sheba to set the pace in the trainers’ championship race in the Winter Racing Challenge, before Doug Watson caught up with him a few days later at Sharjah.
Royston Ffrench got Muhairi’s celebrations underway last Thursday night, riding Rise View to victory in the Al Nasr Leisureland Plate.
Later, Wayne Smith, making a solid return from injury, emerged victorious on Always Emirates and the ageing Junction Line in the Al Nasr Leisureland Stakes and Challenge respectively.
The treble was Musabah’s third hat-trick of the season and he now sits top of the trainers’ championship table alongside Watson, who managed to draw level after securing another victory as neighbouring Sharjah hosted its first meeting of the season on Saturday.
It was Smith who once again did Emirati Musabah a favour, bringing home Rahaf in style in the 1,200m race for local-breds. Muhairi is thrilled with the way his season has unfolded at Nad Al Sheba, and revealed he had commenced preparations well in advance.
“The team at home have done a great job during the summer to keep the horses healthy. We began some serious work in August and that’s really made the difference. I was very confident and I can say I expected to win at least three races, including the sprint with Junction Line, who has been working very well,” he said.
Smith thanked Musabah’s stable staff for sweating behind the scenes to ensure the horses were in top shape ahead of the races. “The hard work they have done throughout the summer is really paying off,” he said. “The horses are in fantastic condition and it’s always a pleasure to ride a horse that is willing to give 100 per cent.”
South African trainer Mike de Kock netted his first win of the season when Ablaan made use of the full 1,400m to overcome Jasmine’s Hero in the Al Nasr Leisureland Trophy.
Following the juvenile’s neck victory, the top international trainer of the 2007 Dubai International Racing Carnival said: “Ablaan is going to be a 10-furlong or mile-and-a-half horse, who will reach his potential at four or five, as he’s pretty lazy and loose.
“But we will look at the Al Bastakiya and UAE Derby for him, and I’m sure he will improve a lot.”
English Derby-winning rider Martin Dwyer made a successful return to Nad Al Sheba when he won the feature Dhs 110,000 Al Nasr Leisureland Stakes.
It was the second leg of a double for trainer Watson, who supplied UAE champion jockey Willie Supple with his first winner of the season when Hunter’s Glen romped to victory in the Handicap.
Erwan Charpy and Tadhg O’Shea continued their fine runs as well, winning the opening Al Nasr Leisureland Cup for Purebred Arabians with Santhal.
O’Shea was victorious at Sharjah, too, landing the opening 1,200m race on Bakhit Al Ketbi’s Hazem. Watson then added another victory to his total when talented Irish jockey Daragh O’Donohoe guided Nedji Class home in the 1,700m handicap.
That was a second 1,700m handicap, with Adrian Nicholls celebrating his first visit to the course with a win on Tony Manuel’s Fajer Moraqab in the other.
Elsewhere, Richard Mullen and Jaci Wickham combined to land a 10-furlong handicap with Sir Oliver Mrv, who seemed to appreciate the reapplication of the visors.
Local apprentice jockey Ahmad Ajtebi continued his impressive start to the season when he won the other
10-furlong handicap on Mohammad Ramadan’s GRP Takteek Ghantoot.
