Conclusion wins Jebel Ali feature; Seemar completes quadruple

Racing at Jebel Ali on Friday afternoon was officially highlighted by a 1950m handicap which, with the maximum field allowed, 16, facing the starter looked ultra-competitive on paper but was turned into a procession by Conclusion.

Trained by Musabbeh Al Mheiri for Galaxy Racing, the 5-year-old entire, foaled in Japan and a son of super sire Deep Impact, swept to the front with about 250m remaining and powered clear under Fernando Jara to record his third career victory but first in the UAE.

The main support race, a 1400m handicap, was won almost as easily by Pilgrim’s Treasure who under Tadhg O’Shea chased what appeared a very generous early gallop in the centre, with the 13 runners spread right across the track.

They quickened to the front about 300m from home and were never in any danger of being caught.

 A 6-year-old Dubawi entire owned by Ailan Hamad Kadfoor Al Mehairi, he was completing doubles on the card for O’Shea and trainer Satish Seemar while, in the process, recording a third career success and second for current connections having previously landed a 1400m handicap on the Meydan dirt in March 2018.

The fixture kicked off with a 1950m maiden which was won relatively comfortably by Majestic Thunder, partnered by O’Shea for Seemar and Touch Gold Racing.

In a race very few of the 12 runners were able to get competitive, O’Shea, having settled his mount in midfield, drove to the front 200m out, the pair sweeping past Dilmun Dynasty and running on strongly.

A 5-year-old gelded son of Dubawi, he was opening his account at the seventh attempt, having twice finished runner-up, over 1200m here at Jebel Ali then 1600m at Meydan on his first two starts this season before three more outings, beaten more than five lengths in each of them.

Seemar was back in the winner’s enclosure for a third time, combining with stable jockey Richard Mullen to land a 1400m maiden restricted to 3-year-olds with Sanad Libya, having his first start for the master of Zabeel Stables.

On his only previous start he finished third over 1600m, as a juvenile in early December for Doug Watson. A Tapiture colt, owned by H And B, he flew home up the hill in the final 300m to pass both What A Metal and Midnight Deal in the closing 50m.

The jockey then completed a quick double and a quartet of winners for Seemar with the smooth victory of Midlander, owned by Ali Haddad, in the concluding 1000m handicap.

Having chased the pace on the far side, with the 12 runners fanning out across the track, Mullen sent the 8-year-old Shamardal gelding for home soon after halfway, the pair hitting the front about 250m out and pulling away from toiling rivals. It was a seventh career victory for the horse, but just second in the UAE, the previous one a 1000m Al Ain handicap in March last year, that being his first win since September 2015.

Having finished runner-up on his three previous outings, caught close home on each occasion having tried to make all here at Jebel Ali, few could begrudge Tailor’s Row his deserved victory in the 1800m handicap, soon in front under Royston Ffrench and thereafter never headed.

Trained by Salem bin Ghadayer for Musab Abdulqader Mohd Al Rais, the 6-year-old Street Cry gelding was registering a fourth career success, second in the UAE, first at Jebel Ali and for bin Ghadayer whom he has joined this season from Omar Daraj.

Young jockey Adam McLean, a key member of Doug Watson’s team at Red Stables, rode his first winner of the campaign when partnering Native Appeal to victory, for his boss, in a 1600m handicap.

Sporting the silks of Mohd Khalifa Al Basti, wearing a distinguishing red cap on seemingly the third string for both owner and trainer, he produced the 5-year-old Exceed And Excel gelding to collar Celtic Prince, who had led from early in the long straight, inside the final 200m.