Somoud shines in Mullen’s Abu Dhabi treble

One of the major fixtures of the Abu Dhabi season, Sunday’s fixture was officially highlighted by the 2200m Group 1 Emirates Championship, a Purebred Arabian feature in which class prevailed with last year’s winner Somoud proving a class apart as he defended his crown effortlessly.

In a capacity field of 14, Richard Mullen was able to settle him about halfway back, but racing alone on the rail before the pair cruised into contention leaving the back straight.

Once Mullen pressed go, his mount shot to the front and the race was over as a contest, the pair repeating their His Highness The President Cup victory of a month ago in totally dominant fashion.

Mullen, completing a treble on the card, said: “He has had a pretty busy season, but Jean and his team keep turning him out. His only defeat was my fault, in The Jewel Crown, which I know Jean and the team want to remedy next season.

Also over 2200m, the biggest Thoroughbred race of the campaign in the capital, the Group 3 Abu Dhabi Championship also produced an impressive winner, Irish Freedom delivering the goods under Antonio Fresu for Satish Seemar.

Raced by J W Moraes, J Moraes and M J Moraes, the 7-year-old gelded son of Pioneer of The Nile was a 1400m handicap winner, under Mullen, on the Abu Dhabi turf in November before adding to that success in a handicap over 1800m on the Jebel Ali dirt just over a fortnight ago.

That was the first occasion on which he was partnered by Fresu, so the Italian remains unbeaten on him and appeared pretty confident most of the way round. Content to stalk early leader Poet’s Prince, he was in the right place to pounce when that one weakened exiting the home turn.

From then on it was just a case of whether Majestic Mambo and Adrie de Vries were going to throw down a serious challenge, but inside the final 100m, the answer to that was a firm ‘no’!

A Prestige contest for the 4-year-old Classic generation, again over 2200m, the UAE Arabian Derby was landed in determined fashion by Dergham Athbah, completing a double on the card for Mullen. Saddled by Mohamed Daggash for Athbah Racing and Stud, the homebred colt was registering a second career success having shed his maiden tag on his penultimate appearance, a maiden over 1800m at Al Ain.

Having initially settled in midfield, Mullen closed rapidly as the runners prepared to enter the short straight, at which point Mujeeb sneaked through on the rail and looked the likely winner. However, Mullen’s mount was not to be denied, grabbing the lead and prize in the final 25m.  

Ernst Oertel saddled a quartet of runners Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda in the 1400m handicap for horses in private ownership and they promptly occupied the first four places home, Mullen and Noof KB desperately clinging on to thwart the challenge of AF Motaghatres, delivered in the dying strides by Antonio Fresu.

The verdict went to Mullen’s mount, the 8-year-old mare winning for the sixth time with AF Motaghatres followed home by AF Mohanak, also finishing, with AF Ashras completing the placings for owner and trainer.

Mullen said: “She deserved to win again because she always battles hard and tries her best, but to be honest, on the line I was worried we had been caught. Luckily our head was down when it mattered most.”

The opening 1600m maiden for horses foaled in the UAE was won by Rawaat Al Reef, initially first reserve, but taking full advantage of opportunity when it arose, Adrie de Vries riding for Al Ajban Stables and Abdallah Al Hammadi. Settled in about sixth of a group of nine who had the race between themselves from a long way out, De Vries’ mount quickened to the front passing the 200m pole and just about had enough left to hold the late lunge of Raali.