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| Staff Writer |
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A commanding performance from Glory Of The Stars secured the feature Distaff Cup at Al Uqda on Thursday, as Debbie Mountain's charge extended her winning sequence with an emphatic success in the 1400m contest for fillies and mares.
The Olympic Glory mare, ridden by Jefferson Smith, overcame a tardy break from stall 11 to power home by three and a half lengths, building on her maiden victory from two weeks ago. Tawny Coster initially showed speed before Seduisante took command ahead of Haya, while Full Gambit made steady headway into third mid-race.
Princess Alice, trained by Hamad Al-Jehani and partnered by Szczepan Mazur, claimed second place by a head from the Zuhair Mohsen-trained Seduisante in third.
The meeting proved particularly fruitful for Mountain and owner Hassan Ali A M Alabdulmalik, who also celebrated success with Road To The East. The Pivotal gelding broke his maiden in style in the Thoroughbred Handicap over 2200m, seeing off Amalfina by three and a half lengths, with Subzero a nose back in third under Alberto Sanna.
Julian Smart enjoyed a productive afternoon, saddling a double through Al Mosayterah and Muqtarib. Al Mosayterah clinched a thrilling Purebred Arabian Handicap over 1400m, prevailing by a head from Angus with Zidane a neck away in third, while HM Zabraj was just a nose further back in fourth.
Earlier, Muqtarib landed the Local Purebred Arabian Handicap under Gavin Matt Ryan, who was completing a double of his own. The AF AlBahar gelding proved two lengths too strong for Hazm Al Sulaimi, with Thahan half a length away in third.
Rudy Nerbonne-trained Gaeeda Al Shahania maintained her perfect record in the Purebred Arabian Novice Plate, beating Texas Traveler CS and Alnood, while Dhouha bounced back to form in the Local Purebred Arabian Handicap over 2100m for trainer Hadi Al Ramzani, holding off AJS Haizum by half a length with Muale'm three and a half lengths away in third.
Moharb, representing Gassim Ghazali, displayed tremendous determination to secure the Local Thoroughbred Handicap, holding off Al Jalilah by a short head with Charlie Bu Thaila three-quarters of a length back in third.