The Ali Rashid Al Raihe trained Mujaazef won the featured 1,000m conditions race at Jebel Ali on Friday afternoon, coming out on top after a titanic struggle with old rival Russian Rock in the final 200m.
Sporting the silks of race sponsor, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, whose Shadwell breeding empire sponsored half of the six races, Mujaazef was always close to the pace under the owner’s retained jockey, Dane O’Neill.
However, they were definitely passed by Russian Rock, last year’s Jebel Ali Sprint winner, about 300m out before battling back to win close home to the delight of his jockey.
“Russian Rock definitely got to us at one stage but my fellow is really tough and stays further so I knew he would stay on again,” said O’Neill. “He ran very well over 1,400m last time and has plenty of pace for this 1,000m – it is amazing to think he won over 2000m in the UK.
“I imagine he will stay in this kind of company with a crack at the Jebel Ali Sprint at the end of the season in mind,” he continued.
Jockey and owner were completing a double having earlier combined to win the opening 1,800m handicap with Funon, saddled by Russian Rock’s trainer, Musabah Al Muhairi who was in treble form.
Jockey and owner were completing a double having earlier combined to win the opening 1,800m handicap with Funon, saddled by Russian Rock’s trainer, Musabah Al Muhairi who was in treble form.
Stable jockey, Wayne Smith was in the saddle on his other two winners with Straight Talk leading the way in the 1,600m handicap before Youm Mutamiez ran out the impressive winner of a 1,400m handicap.
A delighted Smith said: “Russian Rock ran a great race in defeat and it has been a good afternoon for the yard. Straight Talk has now won three on the spin and seems to be improving – I actually thought he would struggle to beat our other runner, Mashareef who was third.
“We have always really liked Youm Mutamiez and he has now won three over course and distance. The Jebel Ali Mile would probably stretch his stamina but he has loads of ability. He does seem to prefer here to Meydan though.”
“We have always really liked Youm Mutamiez and he has now won three over course and distance. The Jebel Ali Mile would probably stretch his stamina but he has loads of ability. He does seem to prefer here to Meydan though.”
Youm Mutamiez was chased home by Forjatt, trained on the track by Dhruba Selvaratnam who rarely leaves his home course empty handed and saddled Momaris to win the concluding 1,400m maiden under James Doyle.
Doyle said: “They seemed to be going plenty quick enough early on and I was happy to take my time and then challenge when some of the pacesetters were tiring. It was probably not a great race but it should do his confidence plenty of good.”
The victory of Momaris denied apprentice Marc Monaghan and his main employer Satish Seemar a double having combined to win the preceding 1,400m handicap with Gold Pearl. Monaghan’s mount Fieriness was caught close home by Momaris, just as the apprentice had done to deny Dane O’Neill and Sheikh Hamdan a treble with Daaboos in the penultimate race.
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