Half-brothers Mark Of Approval and Alkaraama seal Jebel Ali features

Racing at Jebel Ali on Friday afternoon, an eight-race card, featured a pair of Dhs500,000 Listed contests that were won by half-brothers. First was the 1950m Jebel Ali Stakes in which Pat Cosgrave-piloted Mark Of Approval surged fast and late to snatch the spoils from Team Decision and Chiefdom.

When victorious over 1600m on dirt at the very first meeting of the season, at Meydan last October, the 6-year-old Lemon Drop Kid gelding was a very first Thoroughbred winner for trainer Mahmood Hussain, as well as a first in owner Sayed Hashish’s new pale blue and white silks.

On Friday he became the second, doubled the handler’s seasonal tally in the process while providing him his undoubted career highlight.

The horse has since finished third in each of his subsequent four outings, all at Meydan, twice apiece over 1600m and 2000m, always making relentless late progress--but rarely doing so until straightening out in the lane--suggesting the Jebel Ali hill and 800m stretch would suit.

Settled nearer last than first by Cosgrave, with Just a Penny and Chiefdom setting a strong gallop, they edged closer in the straight before powering home late to win going away in the final 50m.

An hour later, the 1000m Listed Jebel Ali Sprint was dominated by Musabbeh Al Mheiri, who saddled three runners for Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum (UAE Minister of Finance and Industry and Deputy Ruler of Dubai) and the and provided the owner with the first two home.

However, their defending champion, Thammin and Jim Crowley, had to settle for the silver medal this year as they were unable to get past Alkaraama on whom Antonio Fresu was sporting a red cap suggesting he was considered the team’s third string. Never far off the speed, Fresu drove his mount to the front just after halfway and soon had most of their eight rivals in trouble with only Thammin ever really threatening to land a telling blow, but not able to do so, especially after the winner came out a couple paths upon ascending the hill.

A 4-year-old War Front colt from the same Speightstown-sired dam, Agreeable Miss, was having just his third local outing and first since finishing 7 1/2 lengths astern Gladiator King in the Group 3 Al Shindagha Sprint in January.

Sheikh Hamdan and Mheiri have now combined to win this race on four occasions, including with subsequent Group 1 winner Muarrab in 2015.

Mheiri said: “We thought all three of ours had a good chance and are delighted to win this race again for Sheikh Hamdan with a new horse, because he has only run three times for us.”

In between the two features there was a dramatic outcome to a 1400m conditions race, restricted to 3-year-olds, in which local hope Raakezz, trained by Nicholas Bachalard for racecourse patron Sheikh Ahmed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, crossed the line locked in battle with Attribution, with Xavier Ziani seeking a double, trainer Salem Bin Ghadayer a treble and owned by Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum. After prolonged deliberation, the judge was unable to split them.

The opening 1600m handicap, the only Purebred Arabian contest on the bumper card, was restricted to horses foaled locally and produced a dramatic conclusion with AF Al Baher, one of three in the field saddled by Ernst Oertel for Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda, leading right on the line to deny AF Ramz.

Ridden by Bernardo Pinheiro, the winner was quite slowly away and raced in rear throughout the first half of the race before starting to close halfway up the long straight. AF Ramz shot clear with 400m remaining under Joanna Grzybowska with the race appearing won, but her mount tired close home to allow Pinheiro to produce his mount to grab victory. Homebred, the 7-year-old was registering a fourth career success and making his first Jebel Ali visit a winning one.

Fourteen went to post for a 1600m handicap, but there was only ever one leader, Xavier Ziani sending Talento Puma straight to the front and the pair staying there, pulling clear inside the final 500m and never in danger afterwards for Ghadayer, who also saddled runner-up Arroway, and Phoenix Ladies Syndicate, the owners celebrating a belated first victory of the season.

A dual winner, from just three starts, in his native Argentina, the 4-year-old Equal Talent colt was beaten a long way on both his first two Meydan outings in the UAE.