Al Kurdi back on song with three-timer

Reigning champion trainer Mazin Al Kurdi, who has had a relatively quiet time of it this season, stole the show at Nad Al Sheba yesterday when completing a three-timer on an evening of surprises.

Four-time champion jockey Ted Durcan also shared the spotlight when he rode two winners for Al Kurdi Mr Magistrate who won the featured Welcare Hospital Cup over 1200 metres and Bo Bid, a winner of the Al Ras handicap over 1500 metres.

Earlier, former UK champion apprentice Ryan Moore kicked off Al Kurdi's hat-trick when he gave Attlee a solid front-running ride to win the Al Dhagaya handicap over 1600 metres.

Al Kurdi, who took his tally to 10 winners for the campaign, said: "It's been a fantastic day. We've been having a disappointing season … so many second places. But this was good. Hopefully it means a change of luck for the stable."

But followers of the popular Pick Six competition were definitely out of luck with only one favourite, Mr Magistrate, obliging in the six races.

Stars of the day

National trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe also helped himself to a double when he sent out Surbiton and Alma'arry to post impressive wins. The pair were easily the stars of the day. Al Raihe, who has close to 40 horses under his wing at the Grandstand Stables, looks to have two very nice horses who can go far this season.

Surbiton, a six and a half length winner of a 1800 metre handicap, certainly looks like he can add to that success, while the very impressive Alma'arry, who landed his second win in as many starts when taking a 55-85 handicap over 1400 metres, could well be a Maktoum Challenge horse.

By A P Indy, he is bred to go further and it seems conceivable that he will be stepped up to a mile for his next outing as a prelude to a possible shot at the opening round of the Maktoum Challenge over the mile.

Hong Kong jockey Stanley Chin, who was aboard Surbiton, also completed a double having earlier partnered Jilko to land the meet's only Purebred Arabian handicap over 1500 metres.

Jilko showed big improvement from his previous two starts of the season and Chin attributed the change in form to the fact that they took the blinkers off the six-year-old.

"We decided to do something different with him so we took the blinkers off," said Chin who is stable jockey to trainer Musabah Al Muhairi.

"We also trained him to come from behind and I think the tactics worked. He looked happy out there today."