Connor Beasley guides Anizzah to victory in the opening race of the Al Ain meeting on Friday.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

There was also a double on the fixture for handler Ibrahim Al Hadhrami who landed the closing two races with Beasley’s assistance.

Hammadi drew a blank on the opening weekend of the campaign, but he wasted little time getting among the winners when Indys Day and Oscar Chavez, sporting the lime green colours of Al Ajban Stables, bravely held off Hakeem with Sam Hitchcott aboard in the Al Khobaisi Handicap for Purebred Arabians (2000m).

Hammadi also sent out the third home Only Smoke (Abdul Aziz Al Balushi on board) before going one better half an hour later in the Al Jimi maiden (1800m) where he saddled the first two across the line.

In truth, the result looked unlikely at halfway with winner Gem and rider Al Moatasem Al Balushi hard at work to keep tabs on what appeared a strong early gallop.

The rider’s persistence began to pay off in the straight though as the pace setters began to wilt and Balushi and his winning partner, again representing Al Ajban Stables, swept by for an unlikely success.

Stablemate Will Power with Pat Cosgrave on board took the silver medal ahead of the third-home Shuja for Majed Al Jahoori and Bernardo Pinheiro.

In what proved a golden hour for Al Hammadi and Al Ajban Stables, a first victory in 25 starts for Optimizm in the Al Basrah Handicap (1800m) crowned a magnificent evening’s work.

Confidently handled by Ryan Curatolo, himself riding a fourth success of the campaign, the eight-year-old comfortably held the challenge of Manar and Connor Beasley (Ibrahim Al Hadhrami) by five lengths, while Idris Des Arnets took third a further four lengths adrift for the Adil Mouchahi/Bernardo Pinheiro combination.

Beasley had begun the card on a high in the opening Al Saad thoroughbred handicap (2000m) courtesy of a hard-fought win aboard Anizzah for handler Ahmad Bin Harmash and owner Khalifa Saif Rashed Al Maqoodi.

The eight-year-old goes well fresh and overhauled One Vision (Musabbeh Al Mheiri/Ryan Curatolo) in the final 100m for a cosy win. Jazirat with Oscar Chavez in the saddle took third for Saeed Al Shamsi.

While Hammadi dominated the middle of the meeting with his stunning hat-trick, UK rider Beasley and trainer Ibrahim Al Hadhrami teamed up to end the fixture in style as first Hathlla made a thrilling debut in the Wathba Stallions Cup, bolting up by 15 lengths from Air Force Xmansor (Adil Mouchahi/Jaouad Khayate) before Wisam comfortably landed the finale by four lengths for the in-form duo from the Hemidy Alhamida-trained Iznogod De Carrere (Oscar Chavez).

Former Dubai Kahayla Classic winner makes winning reappearance: In the one event either Hammadi or Beasley didn’t dominate, the classy Yas Racing-owned Deryan made a pleasing comeback in the Al Hili Conditions event (1800m) to score in the manner his rating suggested he should.

Partnered by Bernardo Pinheiro and trained by Majed Al Jahoori, the 2021 Dubai Kahayla Classic winner barely needed to be tested to run out a comfortable two-and-a-quarter length scorer at the expense of the eye-catching Oss (Al Hammadi/Al Balushi), while the Tadgh O’Shea-ridden Maador took third for Helal Alawi.