Sharjah: Tadhg O'Shea and Wayne Smith shared the riding honours as the Sharjah Equestrian Club staged its first meeting of the season, but it was trainer Gillian Duffield who decamped with the main prize of the day, the Al Basti Equiworld Trophy for Purebred Arabians.
Duffield sent out course specialist Estiqraar to win the 1,700 metre Rated Conditions event by three quarters of a length from Knife, another Sharjah expert, in a thrilling repeat of last year's race.
The trainer was happy with the result and said: "He just loves the surface here. I can't get him to run as well at Abu Dhabi or Meydan. He is a horse with a nice attitude and that makes it all the more easy for a trainer.
"However, he's at best a middle handicap horse so it's always hard to find suitable races for him, but we'll see where we can go with him. We always have the option of coming back to Sharjah."
Estiqraar was ridden by Royston Ffrench who was notching his ninth win of the season.
Reigning champion jockey Smith was in top form at Sharjah booting home Bin Shamardal for Emirati trainer Mosabah Al Muhairi in the Foran Cup for thoroughbreds and following it up with a confident ride aboard SNF Maher for Julio Peromingo in the Uptite Trophy for Arabians.
Bin Shamardal marked a first win for retaining trainer Al Muhairi and Smith was delighted with the result:
"It is nice to get one on the board for the boss as the horses have been running well enough but just needing a run on the whole. Hopefully a few will follow now."
Good battle
O'Shea continued his rich vein of form that has seen him top the jockey's table with 12 winners with victories aboard Versac PY for veteran French handler Erwan Charpy in to win the Bluefrog Trophy over ten furlongs and on Gulf of Gold for Doug Watson in the Omega Cup over six and a half furlongs.
After fighting hard for a quarter-length win over the Patrick Cosgrave-ridden Shahin Shah in the latter event, O'Shea said: "That was a really good battle between two horses who go very well here at Sharjah. Luckily my fellow has dug deep and had his head in front when it mattered.
"Versac PY took me there travelling so strongly I had to almost check him. He has looked about once he hit the front and jinxed close home but did it well enough."
The entire seven-race Sharjah meeting was generously sponsored by Al Basti Equiworld, who had also sponsored Friday's matinee meeting at Meydan.
Arun Menon, manager at Al Basti Equiworld said: "We are honoured to be sponsoring the races at Sharjah, and Meydan this week.
"Al Basti Equiworld has been an active player in the equine industry in the Middle East for the past 14 years, as distributors of quality feeds, supplements and other accessories. We are committed to the promotion of horseracing and equestrian sports."
