 |
|
| Rowan Anderson |
 |
Sari Dubai was denied a third straight win in the Dubai Creek Harbour handicap with the Doug Watson trained starter finishing runner up.
The winner was First Winter by 3.75 lengths with the Ahmad bin Harmash trained gelded son of Dubawi making it two straight wins at the track for owner Sultan Al ridden by Ray Dawson.
The fifth race on an eight race card’s result leaves Sari Dubai in limbo for a tilt at the Dubai World Cup Carnival as prior to this race his rating sat at 87 with a minimum 90 rating required to run at the Carnival.
However the Dubai World Cup Carnival now beckons for First Winter who thanks to the ride from Ray Dawson puts the six-year-old into contention.
“He was probably a bit fresh for his first two runs,” said Dawson.
“But it all went to plan last time and he was probably a little bit fitter today. They went a good gallop early on which is key to this lad as he can be very keen. He’s on an upward trajectory.
“I’m delighted for Ahmad and the team. The yard’s going very well at the moment.”
In the Rashid Yachts and Marina Cup, race six, Godolphin’s hopes were pinned on one of the hottest commodities of the night in markets with Sense of Power beginning as short favourite.
As the field swung for home hoop Oscar Chavez put his mount Abshrek in the perfect position to come over the top of the fast finisher, Julio Oscaloaga’s Perfect Love, to win.
The win for the gelded son of Oasis Dream for trainer Rashed Bouresly returned him to the winners yard after winning back in December.
“I was told to remember that he has a tendency to lay out and so I made sure I was able to give him a breather,” said Chavez after his 14th win of the season. “He came back to me nicely and then when we turned for home he gave me an extra gear. He was fantastic today.”
Brazilian jockey Bernardo Pinheiro bagged a double from the meeting after winning in the opening race, the Valley by Emaar Purebred Arabians’ Conditions event, on Najm Al Wathba for trainer Majed Al Jahoori. T
The hoop was back in the winner’s circle for the Emaar Beachfront maiden two races later when the filly Noor Bano won at her fifth attempt.
“My only worry was that it was her first time going seven furlongs, first time around the turn and that she’s only a small filly who just ran nine days ago,” said Pinheiro. “I rode her very confidently as she ran an amazing race the last two times at the Carnival.”
Bhupat Seemar has an interesting type on his hands with Lake Causeway.
It took the gelded son of Creative Cause twenty starts to crack his maiden 17 days ago and yesterday he made it two on the trot, over the track and distance.
Both victories were tight by a head and neck respectively but getting it done is all that matters.
Ridden by Antonio Fresu, the grey sneaked through a gap on the rail on the home turn and with eyes on the finish rolled on in a battle with Triple Venture.
“This horse is pretty consistent and he’s always run good races,” said Fresu. “He’s probably got more confident after breaking his maiden. The pace was pretty fast and I wasn’t travelling really well but I had a good draw so I saved some ground around the bend and then was lucky enough to get the gap. He quickened up really well and kept on fighting.”
As was the case with his mount jockey Antonio Fresu went on to take the spoils in two more races for a treble.
He would take out the last two races with Branwell winning the Downtown Dubai by Emaar Handicap.
It was Branwell’s second success since joining Musabbeh Al Mheiri and Fresu was impressed with the performance from his mount.
“I was actually disappointed last time, when maybe it didn’t work out on the grass. I just sat behind the pace today and he travelled beautifully behind them. He’s still improving and hopefully he can give us more.”
Fresu and Al Mheiri also won the last, when Law Of Nature collected his second local race but first since November 2021. Drawn in 12 in the 1800metre Burj Khalifa by Emaar Handicap, he was able to come with a run towards the outside of the field and beat Capla Crusader by a length and a quarter.
Racing returns to Meydan on Friday, for the eighth meeting of the Dubai World Cup Carnival.