Three-time Winner Bentley Makes Flying Start at Meydan’s Opening Meeting

Jockey, Harry Bentley, made a flying return to the UAE with a treble in the final three contests of the night as racing returned to Meydan, the country’s flagship racecourse.

The highlight of the trio was Barbecue Eddie, registering his fifth course victory and first over 1,600m, when running away with the featured conditions race to give the young jockey his second winner on the night.
The Doug Watson-trained eight year old was hampered in the early stages but recovered to track the leaders at halfway and with 600m to run Bentley’s mount was travelling ominously well behind the pacesetters.

Bentley pulled him out to challenge on the outside of long-time leader, Treble Jig, and the pair pulled clear of that rival who plugged on gamely for second.

Watson, who was devastated when Barbecue Eddie had to be withdrawn from the 2012 Dubai World Cup day Godolphin Mile after suffering a fever, was delighted.
“He never runs a bad race on this all-weather surface and Harry has given him a nice ride. I was a bit concerned about 1,600m first time out but he did it nicely and ran on strongly.

“There is a 1,400m race for him next month but we will wait and see and of course there is the Dubai World Cup Carnival and perhaps even a look at the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1.”

Previously the remarkable Rochdale won the 2,000m handicap for the third year running. Bentley was once again in the driving seat on this occasion with Royston Ffrench in the saddle on stablemate, Zain Shamardal.
Bentley was able to get a good a lead on the Ali Rashid Al Raihe-trained nine year old until early in the straight and the pair hit the front 300m out after which the result was never in doubt.

Bentley said: "I am really pleased that Mr Al Raihe has taken me on this season and am looking forward to a busy campaign. We have plenty of nice horses and I was delighted to get the mount on one of the yard's favourite horses.

"Everything went pretty much to plan and it is great to see the horse win this race again."

Bentley then completed his treble with the smooth success of the much improved Garbah in the concluding 1,200m handicap with the pair making virtually all. A delighted Bentley said: “That completes an amazing night and it is great to be back. She travelled so strongly and I was never really worried.”

Earlier Dubai Iconic continued the great start to the season of Satish Seemar and Richard Mullen, holding off fellow newcomer, Interpret in the opening 1,400m maiden.

Mullen was never far off the pace on the winner before kicking for home tartly in the straight in what proved a decisive manoeuvre.

Mullen said: "After our good start last week and the way he had been working we hoped he would run well and it is nice to win the first race of the season here.

"It would be nice to think there is more to come from him."

Seemar was back in the winner's enclosure after the following 1,400m handicap which was won for the second year running by Skycruiser who was a first ride in the UAE for young Irish apprentice, Marc Monaghan.

Harry Bentley had kicked Mutayaser clear turning for home but Monaghan produced his mount to lead late on and a delighted apprentice said:  "Obviously that is the perfect start to my UAE career and I am delighted to have such a good opportunity.

"They have gone a decent gallop and Skycruiser enjoyed that and stayed on strongly. He relishes this surface and the horses in the yard are in great form."

Trainer Abdulla bin Huzaim and Jesus Rosales then combined with Lion Sands to land the 1,900m handicap from the Erwan Charpy-trained El Muqbil who was staying on strongly but never looked likely to catch the winner.

Bin Huzaim said: "This is a nice horse who has run some nice races in defeat since arriving in the UAE and everything fell right today with Jesus doing everything right."