Abu Dhabi: A 1,600m handicap was the most valuable and featured contest at Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club on Sunday evening, for which only seven went to post but they still managed to produce an intriguing finish with the lead changing hands three times in the short 400m straight.

RV Moulins Monarch and Royston Ffrench led from the outset until, leaving the home turn, they were swamped with AF Al Sajanjle taking the initiative, one he and Antonio Fresu maintained until halfway up the home stretch.

They were snared by Molahen El Alhan who looked the likely winner under Jose Santiago until, widest of all, Sam Hitchcott pounced aboard Al Tiryaq, just as Dane O’Neill, suspended on this occasion, had done aboard the same horse, over 1,400m at Abu Dhabi, a fortnight ago.

Trained by Abdallah Al Hammadi and with Hitchcott sporting the lime green colours of the trainer’s main patron, Al Abjan Stables, Al Tiryaq was adding this victory to two previous ones, both at Abu Dhabi, over the 200m shorter trip.

“He won well the last day for Dane and this 1,600m, in a small field behind a steady gallop has suited him because he does have a good turn of foot which he has shown again today,” said Hitchcott.

“He is an improving horse and it has taken us a while to get to know him; ridden patiently over this type of trip is what he needs as opposed to the staying trips we tried him over a couple of times.”

Arguably the best quality race was the following fillies and mares’ 1,600m conditions event which attracted a select field of five with Al Asayl pair Mawahib and Mahbooba coming home first and second, completing a double for her connections.

Stable jockey, Tadhg O’Shea, who had the choice of that pair, as well as RB Dixie Burning, all trained by Eric Lemartinel, chose right and always looked confident aboard Mawahib.

RB Dixie Burning made the early running before being passed by Gerald Avranche and Mahbooba just after halfway.

They led until the 400m pole, when AF Marrah took over but she was swallowed up by the Al Asayl pair in the final 100m with Mawahib winning comfortably, following up a win on her previous start, over 1700m, on the Sharjah dirt.

“Al Asayl had three nice fillies in the race and it was an ideal opportunity for them, on a racecourse, for a decent prize; otherwise they would have had to do a piece of work at home.

“I was impressed with Mawahib having won on her at Sharjah when I hit the front too soon so I was happy to leave it late here. “She is improving and that was only her seventh start so, with luck she can continue to do so,” explained O’Shea.

‘Twelfth time lucky’ is not a phrase you often hear but that was the case with Al Asayl’s Hawafez, registering his first victory, in thrilling fashion, when storming home under O’Shea to land the opening 1400m maiden, seemingly needing every metre of the trip.

Twice second, including last time behind Al Tiryaq, among his previous 11 outings, he finally put his head in front here, making relentless progress inside the final 150m to deny AF Khaddaa who had looked set to score comfortably under John Egan but had no response to the winner’s late challenge.

Having tracked the early pace, he seemed to be outpaced as the leaders kicked for home and was then a bit short of room about 250m out but, once in the clear, stayed on resolutely to snatch a victory which looked unlikely even 100m from the line.