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| Staff Writer |
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Vagalame made a remarkable comeback after two disappointing starts in the Emirates to secure a stunning gate-to-wire victory in the Listed Abu Dhabi Championship on Thusday, which was the main event on the final night of racing in the UAE capital this season. Trained by Salem bin Ghadayer, the 5YO Lope De Vega gelding, under the expert guidance of Xavier Ziani, led the 14-horse field from the front and stayed comfortably in the lead while the battle for the minor spots continued behind him.
Keffaaf, one of Michael Costa's two horses, threatened in the final stages of the 2200m contest, but Vagalame held on gamely to win by a neck, marking his career's most significant achievement. Franz Kafka finished third for trainer Ahmad bin Harmash and Sam Hitchcott.
The race was one of two Thoroughbred events on the card, and Bhupat Seemar won the other, the Mussafah Bridge handicap over 1400m, to gain an advantage in the UAE Trainers' Championship, with his 37th winner, leaving Michael Costa narrowly missing victory.
In another thrilling contest, Tadhg O'Shea steered Fall Of Rome to victory in the race for horses rated between 0-70, showcasing an exemplary partnership with trainer Bhupat Seemar. Benzema finished second for Salem bin Ghadayer and Royston Ffrench, with Ironside coming in third for Qaiss Aboud and Bernardo Pinheiro.
Later in the evening, Bernardo Pinheiro guided Tariq to victory in the PA Gr.3 Arabian Triple Crown R3, trained by Majed Al Jahoori for Yas Racing. In the Sheikh Khalifa Bridge 1600m maiden, Mohammed Al Mahrooqi's Namoor triumphed on his racecourse debut by five and a quarter lengths. In the Sheikh Zayed Bridge 0-90 handicap for fillies and mares, Eric Lemartinel's Maanar won by a shorthead for Yas Racing under Jules Mobian.
Ahmed Al Mehairbi's Al Laith, ridden by Sam Hitchcott, clinched the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Gold Cup, a 1600m PA Prestige run, by a short head, denying Ernst Oertel's AF Maqam, ridden by Tadhg O'Shea. In the Wathba Stallions Cup 0-85 handicap for UAE bred horses, AF Ghayyar, ridden by apprentice Marcelino Rodrigues, secured a tidy two and three-quarters of a length victory for Ernst Oertel, with AF Nafith finishing second.