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First Class was not going to let Lady Princess have a repeat in the Jewel Crown and he was rewarded off the back of a battle between the pair.
Coming up against one of his rivals in Group One Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown Jean De Mieulle had his 5YO gelded son of Dahess ready to get the upper hand in this one.
Lady Princess won last time they faced off on the track in October in the Qatar Arabian World Cup where First Class finished fifth on that occasion.
With Ronan Thomas in the saddle in the colours of Nayef Saad Sh S Al Kaabi the hoop showed patience moving through the pack after settling midfield.
Lady Princess sat in the back of the field and ridden on the pace before being moved up with 200m in a huge effort to move out wide picking off runners as she went.
On the home turn and with the speed quickening Thomas moved First Class up to hit the lead. Jim Crowley motored with intent on Lady Princess to throw up a real challenge to the eventual winner.
The pair separated from the rest of the pack to make it a race in two, but First Class pulled away to win by a length over the nine-time Group One winner Lady Princess, trained by Thomas Fourcey.
This Jewel Crown win made it the second Group One victory to be shared by Thomas and his ride, First Class, after winning the Dubai Kahayla Classic in March this year.
After the race, Thomas said he was very happy with what First Class gave him in the ride especially given the competition from the Jewel Crown champion from last season.
“They went quite quick up front, so I was happy to take my time and he was always travelling happily before picking up very well. He then galloped all the way to the line,” he said.
This marquee race was another chapter in the rivalry between these two stars of the turf which is sure to be remembered.
By Rowan Anderson