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The final UAE race meeting of 2020 was at Abu Dhabi on Sunday, highlighted by the Listed 1600m Abu Dhabi Championship, restricted to 3YO and won relatively comfortably by Mujeeb under Fabrice Veron.
Having his third start for Eric Lemartinel and his main patron, HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the homebred grey colt had made a winning debut here in the capital in early November, but was then well beaten on his only subsequent start in a conditions race over this 1600m course and distance. He bounced back in style, travelling strongly for Veron in midfield before the pair were able to sneak up the rail leaving the home turn and were soon in front in the short straight. Defeat thereafter never looked likely with Ottoman, finishing fast from the rear, getting closest, but without appearing likely to deny Veron’s mount.
The final two races were both Thoroughbred handicaps, the first over 1600m and Veron completed a double, partnering Shanaghai City to a smooth success, just as he had done over 1000m at Jebel Ali last Friday, for Rashed Bouresly. Having stalked early leader Faith And Fortune, Veron drove his mount to the front when that rival weakened with about 250m remaining. The 4YO Shanghai Bobby colt stayed on resolutely to record a third career success, but first on turf, at just the second attempt. His first success was also over the Jebel Ali 1000m, in March, and he has now won three of his four most recent outings.
A capacity field of 12 contested the opening 2200m maiden in which Pat Cosgrave always looked happy aboard Zalman, the pair hitting the front 200m out and always holding the late challenge of AF Ramz who chased him home just ahead of Will Power who flew home in the final 300m to claim third. Having his tenth career start, the 4YO colt had finished second over the same course and distance when chasing home, the very useful Ihtesham in the UAE Arabian Derby in March.
The owners were celebrating a quick double just 30 minutes later, this time combining with Mohamed Daggash who saddled Hisham Al Khalediah II who was probably never headed under Fernando Jara in a 1600m maiden. It was a sixth winner of the season for the trainer, enjoying his best ever campaign and eighth in total. A 6YO entire, he was making it third time lucky having raced just twice last season, for Alalawi, finishing well beaten both times over 2200m then 2000m. This seasonal debut was his first outing since the end of February.
Adrie de Vries then adopted identical tactics in the following 1600m handicap, making every post a winning one aboard Qader for Jean de Roualle and Yas Racing. Another making a successful return to action, having not been seen in public since early February, the 8YO homebred was registering a fifth career victory, all over this course and distance.
Credit: ERA