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| Staff Writer |
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The Umm Bab Cup Meeting at Al Uqda Racecourse on Saturday delivered a feast of high-quality racing, headlined by an eye-catching debut from Steamboat in the opening contest.
The juvenile son of No Nay Never, under Maikon De Souza, dominated the 1200m Thoroughbred Maiden Plate, powering clear to score by eight lengths. Trained by Rashid Mohammed Alathba for Al Azraq Stable, the impressive bay colt left Alshaqra trailing in second, with Proud Samaritan a length further back in third.
The Local Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate over 1400m saw Ibsharah Al Naif maintain her perfect record with a taking success. The grey filly, trained by Hamad Al-Jehani and ridden by Saleh Faraj Al-Otaibi, showcased her class with a length and three-quarters victory on debut. Jahanara claimed second by a nose from Al Ta'er in a thrilling battle for minor honours.
John Steed continued his meteoric rise through the ranks, completing a quick-fire double for Al-Jehani and Al-Otaibi in the 1200m Thoroughbred Handicap (0-75). The grey gelding, owned by Faleh Suwayed B S AL Ajami, maintained his unbeaten seasonal record with a length and three-quarters victory over Villain's Voice, with Zoltan Star three-quarters of a length away in third.
The momentum carried through to the 1400m Thoroughbred Handicap (65-85) Division 1, where Marinara, representing Wathnan Racing, proved too strong for her rivals. The Alban de Mieulle-trained filly, partnered by Soufiane Saadi, crossed the line a length clear of Poderoso, with Sardem half a length back in third.
The meeting concluded in spectacular fashion as Legend Of Xanadu made light work of Division 2, romping home by six and a half lengths under Tomas Lukasek. The Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki-trained gelding left Noble Patron and Al Wakrah fighting for minor honours, the former prevailing by three-quarters of a length.
Previous winners of the Umm Bab Cup have gone on to achieve success at higher levels, with last year's victor Desert Crown later securing the Gr.2 Al Rayyan Stakes and the Listed Lusail Cup.