Doug Watson’s Purebred Arabian Claims Group 2 Mazrat Al Ruwayah
Quite A Show sprang something of a surprise in the featured Group 2 Mazrat Al Ruwayah, defying a Group 1 penalty to land the 1600m contest, the only Purebred Arabian race on the card at Meydan on Thursday.
Trained by Doug Watson for HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, he was ridden by Dane O'Neill and was winning on the all-weather for the first time.
"He is certainly tough and has really battled to get his head in front and then stuck his neck out to stay there," said O'Neill.
Watson said his charge would now be heading for a Dubai World Cup Carnival outing.
"That was a nice surprise because he is only tiny and had to give weight away to some real good horses but he is a genuine Group 1 performer,” he said. "I was not worried about the surface as he was third on it last season. He will go for Al Maktoum Challenge Round I now."
On an evening kindly sponsored by Al Tayer Motors, Dubai World Cup Carnival clues were provided by Surfer and Ganas, both impressive winners.
Trained by Satish Seemar, Surfer won a 1400m conditions race to follow up his previous 1600m maiden victory and delighted his jockey Richard Mullen who said: “That was very pleasing – not just the fact that he won but because he was a lot more relaxed this evening.
“He is really growing up and improving with experience and that maiden win helped his confidence no end. We will have to look at the Maktoum Challenge races now and he is going to be better over 1600m and probably 1800m.”
Trainer and jockey were completing a double having won the preceding 2200m handicap with Layali Al Andalus.
Ganas made all in a 1200m handicap, for the third time this season, for jockey Tadhg O’Shea and his trainer, Ernst Oertel who explained “He has just not stopped improving all season and we really think he will be better with a lead – it is just finding a horse quick enough to give him a lead.
“We will have to find a race for him at the Dubai World Cup Carnival now.”
Paul Hanagan continued his great start to the season and he too was in double form, combining twice with Champion Trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe. Hanagan was seen at his very best when weaving through the field on Maali to win the opening1950m maiden with the four-year-old finally opening his account at the 17th attempt.
Hanagan then had to wait until the last, a 1400m conditions race, to complete their doubles and he was sporting the famous blue and white silks of his main employer HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum on Tamaathul.
A juvenile winner in the UK in 2009, Tamaathul had not won since buy was only caught close home on his previous start and Hanagan said: “He deserved that win after some very solid efforts in defeat and it is great to ride my first winner for the boss here at Meydan – having ridden my first winner at the track earlier.
“It has been a really good start to my UAE season and I am really looking forward to the Dubai World Cup Carnival.
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