Jara rides Yaraa to victory in feature race at Al Ain

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Fernando Jara rode Yaraa to victory at Al Khaznah Stakes, featured handicap over 1800m, to hand Yas Racing and Majed Al Jahoori a scintillating win in Al Ain on Saturday.

Jara spurred Yaraa in the final 200 metres to claim the victory after being trailed by the others for most part of the race. Seven-race card meeting in Al Ain featured Purebred Arabians.

Jara was content to settle his mount, quite wide, in a share of third and fourth, but was always in a good position to make a telling challenge in a race at least half of the 15 runners held realistic claims as the leaders left the home turn.

At that point AF Ramz was in front before Mujahid, trained on the Al Ain track by Mohd Ramadan, took over, immediately hassled by Dagui Lotois and Salb. As the 200m pole approached, Jara ‘pressed go’ and his mount darted to the front, running on strongly to land the spoils from Mujahid with Onward staying on from the back to snatch third.

Homebred, the 5-year-old mare was winning for a third time, having arrived locally with one success to her name in her native France, a victory she added to in February, over this 1800m Al Ain course and distance when trained by Ana Mendez. It was her second appearance for Al Jahoori, the first, 16 days ago, resulting in a fourth over an inadequate 1000m, also at Al Ain.

Seven went to post for the opening 1600m maiden, restricted to 3-year-olds foaled in the UAE and in private ownership, but only two were ever really involved with Tadhg O’Shea attempting to lead from the outset on AF Istintaq but his mount had no answer when challenged by debutant Samau Xmnsor about 275m from home.

Having stalked O’Shea, whose mount had the advantage of one previous outing, Omani apprentice Abdul Aziz Al Belushi drove his mount to the front and found a willing partner, always seemingly in control once in front, the jockey opening his account for the season in the process.

The following 1600m maiden was turned into a procession by dirt debutant Ottoman whose 14 opponents may as well have stayed at home in their stables once he hit the front at the top of the long straight under Szczepan Mazur who has returned to UAE action this weekend and was riding his first winner of the season at just the fourth attempt.

Saddled by Abdallah Al Hammadi for his main patron, Al Ajban Stables, the 3-year-old had made his one previous start last Sunday when fifth over 1400m on the Abu Dhabi turf. The extra 200m and switch to dirt, allied with that experience, clearly suited as he shot clear, eventually winning by ten lengths.

Hammadi said: "We were pleased with his debut last week and that was very impressive, so we have to be delighted because he is only a young horse who, hopefully, can improve.”

Owner and trainer were then denied a quick double when their Will Power just failed to reel in Sharkh in the following 1800m maiden, the latter clinging on grimly for Pat Cosgrave, sporting the predominantly red silks of Abu Dhabi Racing.

Trained locally by Helal Al Alawi from his base at The National Stables, the 4-year-old was making it third time lucky on his local and dirt debut having raced twice in his native France, narrowly beaten when third on debut and again when fourth as recently as August.

Never far off the pace, Cosgrave set sail for home fully 600m out, looking set for a comfortable success until Bernardo Pinheiro conjured a late lunge from Will Power, one which only just failed.

Alawi said: "The horse only made his debut in June and is still learning his job. We think he is a nice new horse in the yard and we now know this surface suits him so it opens up options.”

Pinheiro may have been out of luck on that occasion, but was able to complete a brace for Al Ajban Stables and Al Hammadi when Maaly Al Reef prevailed in a thrilling finish to the 2000m handicap.

The gallant AF Al Baher led for about the first 1850m only to be headed by Pinheiro’s mount, but refused to lie down under Tadhg O’Shea, regaining the initiative in the centre of eventual winner and his stablemate Opera, one of three saddled by Al Hamamdi. Maaly Al Reef reclaimed the lead about 50m out, staying on to land the spoils from AF Al Baher with Opera in third, the trio separated by a neck and short-head.

It was a third career, second on dirt, success for the 6-year-old entire and Pinheiro said: "He is a good little horse who was second last time and we only had 53kgs today, so was receiving a lot of weight from the runner-up which we took advantage of with a battling display.”