Jockey-turned-trainer Brette scores first win

The English Derby's winning jockey Willie Ryan provided jockey turned trainer Peter Brette with the first win of his new career during an incident filled race day at the Jebel Ali racecourse yesterday.

Ryan, who won the Derby with Benny The Dip in 1997, produced a big ride on the previously unraced Fatek to win the Arabian Scandinavian Insurance Co-sponsored mile from frontrunner Nasheyt and set Brette off the mark.

The UAE's first champion jockey back in 1991-92, Brette has taken charge of the Nad Al Sheba stables following trainer Bill Mather's retirement from UAE racing.

"It's a great feeling, kind of different," Brette said after leading Fatek into the winner's enclosure, a spot that he has graced on so many numerous occasions during his career as a jockey. "But it's more of a relief really after five seconds."

Commenting on Fatek's effort Brette said: "We thought he'd run well as he's a nice horse. He's a big green but with a lot of potential." Fatek, a Darshaan colt who was bred at Ireland's Gainsborough Stud, was previously trained by John Gosden for Godolphin in Newmarket. He was, however, unraced as a two-year-old.

Prior to the start of the race two jockeys, John Carroll and Chris Avery, had narrow escapes when their mounts turned fractious during the paddock parade. Avery escaped with only his pride wounded after being tossed to the ground by Hey Stan, while Carroll was less fortune.

The popular Englishman was dealt a vicious cow kick by Felloe just as he was preparing to climb into the saddle. He fell to the ground like a boxer who had been floored and was seen lying in pain for well over ten minutes.

After being treated by paramedics Carroll stood up to the accompaniment of cheers and made his way gingerly to the jockey's room where further medical tests were carried out. Racecourse doctors ruled out the possibility of any serious injury before discharging him.

"He's just a little sore in the stomach, below the ribs," ERA Racing Secretary Kevin Greely told Gulf News later yesterday. "John said he felt a lot better after being treated and did not think it was necessary to go to a hospital. Hopefully he'll be okay."

Earlier in the afternoon top English jockey Seb Sanders notched his first win in the UAE, while trainer Mazin Al Kurdi saddled Mufaq to win back to back races at this course.

Sanders, who rode 80 winners during the 2000 British Flat Racing season while finishing eighth behind champion Kevin Darley, produced a good effort astride the Erwan Charpy-trained Marciale to win the Bin Dasmal Group-sponsored 9.75f race from newcomer Pentagonal and Rasmussen.

Kurdi, who previously held a trainer's license in Syria, notched his third win of the season and second with Mufaq in a six furlong sprint for Purebred Arabians. A winner at this course last week Mufaq reproduced the effort for jockey Darren Biggs to land the Dhs 50,000 winner's purse.  Willie Supple astride Fairton, was a well-beaten second.

Champion trainer Satish Seemar completed a one-two finish in the Fraser Nag Partnership-sponsored handicap over 9.75f with Astrologer beating stablemate Arabian Desert in a photofinish. Gaven Birrer was atop the former and Steve Cauthen Award winner Ted Durcan on the latter.