LOOK: Purebred Arabians dazzle as Brazilian Bernardo Pinhiero scores treble at Al Ain Racecourse

The second week of the 2021-2022 UAE racing season featured some exciting action at Al Ai, Jebel Ali and Abu Dhabi with the focus primarily on Purebred Arabian racing and featured some of the best bred in the UAE. However, thoroughbreds were offered the chance to shine at a sun-baked Jebel Ali Racecourse on Friday and did not waste the opportunity to impress racing fans with several eye-catching performances, perhaps none more than Pat Dobbs (pictured) and Royal Appointment who was a hugely impressive winner of the featured sprint. Gulf News looks at some of the highlights of the last week’s action.

Abu Dhabi’s card on Sunday featured just the one thoroughbred contest in an otherwise Purebred Arabian card and the spoils went to jockey Xavier Ziani and trainer Salem Bin Ghadayer, who teamed up to win the 1,600m Al Marmoom Desert Conditions event with Mailshot. It was the seven-year-old on American stallion Hard Spun’s first win since October 2019 and after 16 starts. Mailshot came home an easy two-length winner and may have discovered a later career vein of form.

Social media friendly Bernado Pinheiro completed a impressive hat-trick at Al Ain Racecourse last week on an all-Arabian card. The Brazilian looked to be in great touch booting home Oss, Rayqa and Leena much to the delight of Emrati trainers Abdallah Al Hammadi and Majed Al Jahoori. Pinheiro was quick to take to his Twitter account to trumpet his achievement, which he described as a ‘blessed day’ while thanking his connections.

Former champion jockey and UAE resident Richard Mullen picked up a nice spare ride for Al Asayl handler Salem Al Ketbi to win the Al Qudra Desert Conditions event over a mile at Abu Dhabi onboard Nadhra. Mullen was asked to call upon all his experience to hold off Pinheiro and Optimizm in a tight finish. Based in Dubai for over 16 years, Mullen is embarking on a new career as a stable jockey to the historic Jebel Ali Stables which are owned by Maj Gen Sheikh Ahmed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Chief of Dubai Police and Public Security.

Champion jockey Tadhg O’Shea was in double-winning form at Jebel Ali Racecourse’s second meeting of the new season scoring aboard Af Maqam in the opening Purebred Arabian event and following it up with a battling victory on Remorse in the Shadwell Handicap for former champion handler Satish Seemar. O’Shea, who has been crowned UAE champion on seven occasions, looks to be enjoying his new contract at Seemar’s championship-winning Zabeel Stables.

Reigning champion trainer Doug Watson rarely goes home empty-handed and this time he took home the Jebel Ali Racecourse maiden trophy after sending out Royal Appointment to score a convincing seven-and-a-quarter-length victory in the 1,000m sprint. The winner was ridden from the front by Watson’s long-time stable jockey Pat Dobbs. The handsome son of Pivotal was winning on the third attempt for Watson having been previously been trained by Robert Cowell in the UK.

Mohammad Daggash, who trains out of the Baynoonah Stables, landed his first winner of the season when former Dubai World Cup-winning jockey Fernando Jara piloted Majad Baynoonah to win by a head from Yas Xmnsor and Saif Al Baloushi. It was also Jara’s first success this season. The Panamanian jockey won the 2007 Dubai World Cup aboard Invasor.

Veteran South African handler Jaci Wickham opened her account for the season when she saddled Waked W’Rsan to win the 1,400m Rub Al Khali handicap at Abu Dhabi. Wickham has been based at the W’rsan Stables for over two decades has been a great patron of Purebred Arabian racing. Waked W’Rsan, who is a homebred, had to dig deep to stave off Af Alareeq an apprentice jockey Abdul Aziz Al Balushi.