Another impressive show by Bint Belady

Richard Whitaker's Bint Belady came up with another impressive run under jockey Michael Hills to win the Al Asayl Championship, a Group Three race at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club racecourse here yesterday.

Bint Belady, a comfortable winner over seven lengths here earlier in the season, made the most after top-rated Eau Royal (Richard Hills up) seemed to be caught in a tangle, while the other favourite from Julian Smart's yard, Tidjam Lotois, pulled up soon after the start of the race.

Keeping Bint Belady in second behind Basilic De Ghazal, the early leader, Michael Hills brought the champion to the front once in sight of the finishing post. Bint Belady answered Hills' call and though Klovis De Nerak kept pursuing, the Mazin Al Kurdi-trained colt could only finish second best with a fast-finishing Celestin (Seb Sanders up) in a smart third place.

Jockey Anthony Whelan also stole the limelight when he completed a double win yesterday.

Earlier in the evening, the Lancey Carter Jr.-trained Kal Barq reasserted his supremacy over the 12-furlong distance amidst a small field of six runners.

The Dormane son, ridden by former UAE champion jockey Willie Supple, romped home to his third successive win here at this course and fifth out of six career starts.

In the night's opening race for thoroughbreds over seven furlongs, jockey Trevor Naughton picked up his first winner here when he steered home the Allan Smith-trained Morshid while Paddy Rudkin's Tell Them All (ridden by Anthony Whelan) won the 11-furlong race for thoroughbreds.

Al Reef Stables trainer Dr. Jaber Bittar completed a 1-2 in the last race when stablemates Muwasell (Seamus O'Gormon up) and Muaned (John Stack astride) finished in that order.

In the penultimate race of the night, Anthony Whelan completed his double when Karl Burke's Noor Alain repeated her win here over a similar distance of six furlongs last week.

Race Results:

1. Thoroughbreds, Handicap, 7F:
1. Morshid (Allan M. Smith) Trevor Naughton; 2. Saint Malo (Kiaran McLaughlin) Willie Supple; 3. Siglo (Erwan Charpy) John Murtagh.
Dist: 2 1/4L, Hd. Time: 1:22:73

2. Thoroughbreds, Handicap, 11F:
1. Tell Them All (Paddy L Rudkin) Anthony Whelan; 2. Asgoodasgold (John Sadler) John Murtagh; 3. Baynunah (A Selvaratnam) Michael Hussey.
Dist: 3/4L, 2 3/4L. Time: 2:33:72

3. Purebred Arabian, Handicap, 11F:
1. Kal Barq (Lancey Carter Jr.) Willie Supple; 2. Magid Star (Satish Seemar) Tadhg O'Shea; 3. Zefiro De Nulvi (Julian Smart) Seb Sanders.
Dist: 2 1/4L, 2 1/2L. Time: 2:51:14

4. Al Asayl Championship, (Group 3, Conditions), Purebred Arabians 8F:
1. Bint Belady (Richard Whitaker) Michael Hills; 2. Klovis De Nerak (Mazin Al Kurdi) Sebastian Hamel; 3. Celestin (Dr. Jaber Bittar) Seb Sanders.
Dist: Shd, 1/4L, 1/2L. Time: 1:47:83

5. Purebred Arabian, Handicap, 6F:
1. Noor Alain (Karle Burke) Anthony Whelan; 2. Suzee Que (Gerald Oxley) Richard Mullen; 3. Red Zone (Dr. Jaber Bittar) Darren Biggs.
Dist: Neck, Hd, One L.

6. Purebred Arabian, UAE-bred Maiden, 7F:
1. Muwasell (Dr. Jaber Bittar) Seamus O'Gorman; 2. Muaned (Dr. Jaber Bittar) John Stack; 3. WS Aseel (Musabah Al Muhairi) Neil Kennedy.
Dist: 3 3/4L, 1 1/2L, Neck.