Abu Dhabi: Lady trainer Jaci Wickham and jockey Harry Bentley scored a smart double while Majid Al Jahouri's Naseem showed his class in winning the UAE Arabian Derby at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club here last night.
Naseem, a four-year-old chestnut colt by Mahabb, bred and owned by Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, led a 1-2 for Emirati trainer Al Jahouri in the feature race of the night.
After stablemate Areem under Bentley had done most of the running, it was Daffagh Al Asayl which made the first move, but Wayne Smith kept Naseem in a good position and then swiftly changed gears once on the home stretch to win comfortably.
It was Naseem's second successive win since coming over to the UAE from France and another great win for Al Jahouri.
Earlier, in the Emirates Fillies Classic, Ernst Oertel struck with Manisha, running a great race for the second time in eight days to win the Dh100,000 event.
Perfect note
Al Jahouri's Shajarat Eddor Al Reef under Jesus Rosales was in the lead for most of the race but Manisha, the four-year-old grey filly from former European Champion Darike, showed a fine turn of foot to collar the leader and then win with much to spare.
The evening began on a perfect note for the W'rsan Stables as Wickham authored a quick double, winning the first two races. In the opening race Wajfah W'rsan, a reserve for the 8-furlong race for maidens, got a start after Medrar pulled out. And Harry Bentley won for Wickham to continue the celebrations of the W'rsan Stables whose endurance rider Shaikh Hazza Bin Sultan Al Nahyan won the 160-km President's Cup on Saturday.
In the very next race, the Wickham-trained Raeaa W'rsan under Bentley did well to finish just ahead of Al Hamra and the trainer-jockey combine completed an early double.
In the only race for thoroughbreds, Ali Rashid Al Raihe registered a 1-2 in the 11-furlong maidens' contest. Jamhoori under Emirati jockey Saeed Al Mazroui, who is an apprentice, made it a pillar to post win with stablemate Maali under Royston Ffrench in second place.
RESULTS
Al Reef Maiden, Pas, Dh30,000, 8F:
1. Wajfah W'rsan (Jaci Wickham) Harry Bentley;
2. Mudaf'e (Eric Lemartinel) G. Avranche;
3. Helouane (M. Al Ketbi) Ted Durcan.
Time: 1:48.17; Distances: 2.25L, 2.25L
Al Ras Al Akdar Conditions Race, Pas, Dh60,000, 8F:
1. Raeaa W'rsan (Jaci Wickham) Harry Bentley;
2. Al Hamra (Al Ketbi) Ted Durcan;
3. AF Sataah (J. Peromingo) Wayne Smith;
Time: 1:45.27; Distances: Head, 1.25L;
Wathba Stud Farm Cup, Pas, Handicap, Dh40,000, 7F:
1. MH Wafi (Doug Watson) Tadgh O'Shea;
2. Barolo (H. Hammadi) M. DEmuro;
3. Chase Me (Eric Lemartinel) G. Avranche.
Time: 1:32.00; Distances: 3.50L, 1.25L.
Emirates Fillies Classic, PAs, Prestige, Dh100,000, 8F:
1. Manisha (Ernst Oertel) Mirco Demuro;
2. Shajaret Eddor Al Reef (Majid Al Jahouri) Jesus Rosales;
3. Maharani (E. Oertel) A. Nicholls
Time: 1:45.69; Distances: 3.25L, 3L
UAE Arabian Derby, PAs, Prestige,Dh150,000, 11F:
1. Naseem (Majid Al Jahouri) Wayne Smith;
2. Areem (Majid Al Jahouri) Harry Bentley;
3. Daffagh Al Asayl (E. Oertel) M. Demuro.
Time: 2:28.54; Distances:3.25L, 5L
Jebel Dhana, PAs, Handicap, Dh75,000, 11F:
1. Naseem Al Reef (Eric Lemartinel) D. Smith;
2. Marjan Al Asayl (E. Oertel) M. DEmuro;
3. Najem Al Khalij (Jaber Bittar) Wayne Smith.
Lulu Island, Maiden, Thoroughbreds, Dh35,000, 11F:
1. Jamhoori (Ali Rashid Al Raihe) S. Al Mazrooei;
2. Maali (Ali Rashid Al Raihe) Rpyston Ffrench;
3. Covert Desire (Esmail Mohammad) A. Murgia.
