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| Staff Writer |
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RB Frynchh Dude, ridden by Bernardo Pinheiro, secured a hat-trick and won the AED100,000 Listed Al Ain Cup in the season finale at Al Ain. Abubakar Daud's horse, expertly ridden by Oscar Chavez, won the feature event on the ten-race card in a straightforward manner. Pinheiro rode the horse to victory, securing the rail and the lead shortly after the field left the gates, and Rajeh remained his closest pursuer throughout the race.
Pinheiro continued his winning streak from the previous day's Abu Dhabi card in the Arabian Triple Crown Round 3. He started the day with a win on Zayd in the opening 1800m maiden race for trainer Majed Al Jahoori. He then rode Al Delhab, trained by Qaiss Aboud, to victory in the 1800m filly and mare only maiden race. Pinheiro completed his fourth straight victory, combined with his feature race win from the previous day, aboard trainer Al Hadhrami's Shareek in Division One of the 1800m 0-90 rated handicap.
Trainer Ahmed Al Shemaili was delighted with how Ibra Attack finished from out of the clouds to land the only thoroughbred contest on the card, a 1600m handicap for 0-80 rated thoroughbreds. The 6YO produced a strong burst in the closing stages to overhaul Perfect Balance in a last stride thriller under rider Jules Mobian. Mobian recorded a double of his own as he partnered Raji Al Wathba to a gate-to-wire success in the 2000m local-bred maiden race for trainer Eric Lemartinel and owners Al Wathba Racing.
Aboud posted a second winner of the evening when Sidara made all in the 1600m maiden under Saif Al Balushi. The 6YO mare was finally compensated for a string of consistent efforts this season and recorded a career-best ninth winner of the season for her trainer in the process. Al Balushi also guided RB Sarab to victory in the season's penultimate race, a mile handicap for 0-80 rated Purebred Arabians, trained by Khalifa Al Neyadi.
The 6YO Es Lattam, trained by Hamad Al Marar, won Division Two of the 1800m 0-90 rated handicap, securing back-to-back victories at Al Ain with a game display under Omani apprentice Qais Al Busaidi. The race was the third overall victory for the horse this term, having also won a handicap at Abu Dhabi on his seasonal reappearance.
The Ahmad Salem Al Shamsi-trained Ghiath MKA and Chavez won the 1400m 4YO only maiden, bringing the curtain down on the 2023-24 UAE racing season in style. The winner was dropping in grade following a mere three-length defeat in the Emirates Colts' Classic a fortnight ago but was given the run for his money by the runner-up, Futoon Al Wathba, who pushed him all the way to the line.