Mubeed lands Crown Prince 0f Sharjah Cup, Morning wins ESS opener

Amir Naqvi, Sports Editor

Mubeed won the prestigious HH the Crown Prince of Sharjah Cup, sponsored by Dubai Real Estate Centre, and Morning dominated the HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup at Sharjah Longines Racecourse.

Featuring a competitive line-up of 13 quality Purebred Arabian horses, Mubeed displayed his extraordinary prowess with a commanding victory.

Guided by the jockey Ray Dawson, the Jaber Bittar-trained four-year-old colt completed the race in a style ahead of Saif Almarar’s Badraan Baynounah.

HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup served as the opener of the third edition of the Emirates Sprint Series.

The 1200m contest witnessed a captivating display of speed as Nasir Askar’s Morning claimed a commanding victory under Andrew Slattery.

Morning galloped with breathtaking speed and unyielding stamina, crossing the finish line in a swift 1:11.52 and reaffirming his brilliance on the track.

It was a one-two finish for Bhupat Seemar as Elusive Terry, ridden by the renowned jockey Tadhg O’Shea, finished second after putting up a strong fight.

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club, and Mohammed Saeed Al Shehhi, Director-General of Emirates Racing Authority, graced the races and gave away the prizes in the presence of Sultan Mohammed Khalifa Al Yahyaee, Director of the Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club.

The Emirates Sprint Series was launched two years ago on the directives of Sheikh Ahmed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the patron of Jebel Ali Racecourse.

Delighted with the success of the series opener, Mohamed Al Ahmed, Executive Director of Emirates Sprint Series and General Manager of Jebel Ali Racecourse, said: “It’s a great result for the HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup and series opener.

“I would like to congratulate owner Nasir (Askar) on winning the opening leg of the series. I also congratulate trainer Bhupat Seemar and jockey Slattery for Morning’s win.

“The caliber of horses drawn to the opening leg stands as a resounding testament to the growing prestige of the Emirates Sprint Series.

“This remarkable showcase of talent reflects the series’ evolution into a premier platform, drawing the finest competitors and capturing the imagination of racing aficionados.

“Under the visionary leadership of Sheikh Ahmed, the Emirates Sprint Series has blossomed into a cornerstone of the UAE’s horse racing tradition—a beacon of excellence.

“It’s a great pleasure to be here in Sharjah. Sponsoring the HH the Crown Prince of Sharjah Festival Day and Cup has been a true honor, underscoring our commitment to fostering collaboration,” he added.

Dubai Real Estate Center sponsors the entire six-race card. Earlier, action began with the Dubai Creek Tower. The challenging 1200m contest was a nail-biter from start to finish.

Jap Abeya, ridden by Saif Al Balushi, burst out of the gate and quickly took the lead. But, the race was far from over.

Eywan Aw, with Connor Beasley in the saddle, was hot on Abeya’s heels. The two horses were neck and neck during the race. Responding quickly in the final stretch, Jap Abeya crossed the line first, securing a narrow victory.

Shamail Baynounah stole the show in the Al Yasmeen Stakes, sponsored by the Emirates Sprint Series.

Abu Dhabi Racing stable’s Shamail Baynounah edged past HK Aysel after showing tremendous pace, pulling slightly ahead in the final furlong.

The final stretch was nothing short of spectacular. Sandro Paiva timed Shamail Baynounah’s surge to perfection, coaxing a last burst of speed that saw the mare inch ahead just as they reached the wire.

AF Hazem under Marcelino Rodrigues won the Al Ferdous Stakes while Jean-Claude Pecout’s Palma Spring dominated the Palma Spring race.