Double for Fresu and Mazur at first Al Ain race meet

The last of the five UAE racecourses to stage a fixture this season, Al Ain hosted a seven-race card on Thursday with the only Thoroughbred race, a 1000m handicap, which was won stylishly by Dombra, who was never far off what appeared a frantic gallop from the outset. Confidently ridden by Antonio Fresu for trainer Musabbeh Al Mheiri, in doing so he became a first ever winner for owners Al Rashid Stables with just their second runner. A 3-year-old gelded son of the mighty Frankel, he entered the starting stalls a maiden after nine starts, seven in Britain for Hugo Palmer, just two since joining current connections for 32,000 guineas at Tattersalls last October.

Well beaten on his local debut at Jebel Ali in March over 1400m, when he failed to beat a rival, he was again last on his seasonal return over 1200m, at Meydan three weeks ago. However, he showed plenty of dash here and once in front 300m out, was never going to be caught with Bueller and Rich And Famous both staying on from the rear to take the minor honours.

Sandro Paiva and AF Metawed led virtually throughout the 1600m handicap, only to be denied in the dying strides by Antonio Fresu and MH Wari who finished fast and late to snatch a dramatic victory.

Saddled by Elise Jeanne for Mansoor Khalifa Sultan bin Habtoor who also bred the 6-year-old, the winner had only six previous outings to his name, most recently when losing his maiden tag over 1600m on the turf at Abu Dhabi three weeks ago under Fresu.

A delighted Jeanne said: “Antonio gets on really well with this horse who is not the easiest, but certainly has the ability as he has shown both runs this season.

Fourteen went to post for arguably the highlight of the Purebred Arabian offering, a 1800m handicap, but very few were ever able to get involved with AF Taraha making a bold bid from under Tadhg O’Shea, only to be headed in the final 150m by Duc De Faust and Szczepan Mazur.