AF Alwajel lands Abu Dhabi feature; Basmah wins Arabian Triple Crown R2

Racing in the capital at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club on Sunday was highlighted by the 1400m Group 2 Liwa Oasis in which the exciting AF Alwajel recorded a career best and first win on turf to deny this year’s Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge R1 heroine RB Money To Burn, who led for the majority of the race, but could not withstand the determined challenge of the winner.

Under Tadhg O’Shea, riding for his main employer Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda and Ernst Oertel who trains the vast majority of the owner’s powerful string, the homebred 5-year-old entire was seemingly under pressure at halfway, but responded to his jockey’s urgings to give chase to RB Money To Burn, the race developing into a duel over the final 350m. Once passed, the filly tried to fight back, but the winner was not stopping to open his turf account at the fourth attempt to add this prestigious prize to three victories on the Sharjah dirt surface.

Unraced prior to this season, he made a winning debut at Sharjah and arrived here having finished a staying on second in the Group 3 Al Ruwais Stakes over 1200m on this Abu Dhabi turf track.

The main race and restricted to 4-year-olds, the 2200m Group 3 Arabian Triple Crown R2, went to Basmah under a positive ride from Fabrice Veron who sent his mount, one of three fillies among the 13 runners, straight to the front and they stayed there despite the persistent challenge of RB Kinsman throughout the straight. Previously a maiden after four starts, thrice finishing third, once second, the homebred filly was opening her career account in the process for the President of the UAE His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Eric Lemartinel.

For horses in private ownership, a 1600m handicap may have attracted the maximum allowed field of 16, but very of the runners ever threatened with AF Hakeem making a bold bid to lead all the way under Bernardo Pinheiro, but unable, despite battling back, to deny SS Jalmod who gained the initiative entering the final 250m before keeping on strongly.

Sporting the silks of Nasir Askar, Richard Mullen was in the saddle for Satish Seemar and had his mount in second or third throughout the majority of the contest before asked for an effort by his jockey, responding well and gaining a deserved success.

It was a second career win for the 5-year-old gelding, but first on turf having previously landed a 1400m at Al Ain last March when trained by Younis Al Kalbani.

The meeting concluded with the only Thoroughbred race on the card, a 1600m handicap which proved to be a landmark occasion for jockey Ryan Powell who finished fast and late on Trolius to deny O’Shea, Seemar and Askar doubles by snaring their Welford in the closing stages after it appeared O’Shea had nicked the race when kicking clear leaving the home turn.

However, Powell, who had settled his mount in the middle of the field of 16, asked for an effort early in the straight and was rewarded with a telling burst, their challenge timed to perfection to grab victory.

A 4-year-old gelded son of Cape Cross, trained by Simon Crisford for Sultan Ali, this was his fourth career victory on his third UAE outing. Always in the care of Crisford, he won three times in Britain in the colours of Lady O’Reilly, on an all-weather surface each time. For Powell it was his second mount on the card and a local winner after 62 fruitless efforts with one second placing among them.

The fixture kicked off with a 1600m maiden and having saddled a brace at Al Ain on Friday for owners The Royal Cavalry of Oman, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami provided the owners with another winner, courtesy of debutante Raghida. Settled in midfield by Szczepan Mazur, who was also in double form at Al Ain including one winner for these connections, asked the homebred 4-year-old filly to close on the home turn. Sent after the leaders, she quickened well to lead with about 225m remaining before staying on strongly to deny Wahag SB who finished well to take second.

The following 1600m maiden, restricted to horses foaled in the UAE, produced a dramatic finish with Connor Beasley delivering AF Alareeq to lead in the very final stride to deny Marwa W’Rsan who looked the likely winner when hitting the front 300 out and was almost caught for second by her stable companion Wakeel W’Rsan.

Chasing the leaders on the home turn Beasley was short of space for a moment, but once they found daylight, his 5-year-old entire flew home to grab a dramatic success, opening his account at the eight attempt. He is trained by Ahmed Al Mehairbi for Saif Asheer Al Sulaiman Al Mazrouei