Sharjah: Racing returned to Sharjah Racecourse for the second time this season where the featured 1700m handicap was won, in style, by Aslaan.

Trained by Helal Al Alwai, Aslaan was doubling his career tally, having won on the Al Ain dirt surface in February under a confident ride by the Emirati apprentice, Saeed Al Mazroui.

Cameron Noble tried to lead from the outset aboard ES Zeriyab and the pair defied the challenge of Hakim early in the straight.

Yet Aslaan and Al Mazrooei were making relentless progress in behind and forged to the front in the final 100m to record an comfortable victory.

“I was always pretty happy,” said Al Mazroui. “Coming into he race we thought he had a good chance and he proved that in good style.”

A 1200m handicap was the only Thoroughbred race on the card and was won, in style, by Alraased ridden by Dane O’Neill for his main employer, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance.

The jockey clearly made the right choice on the Ali Rashid Al Rayhi-trained winner who was chased home by the same owner’s Tajheez, saddled by Musabbeh Al Mheiri and the mount of Fernado Jara.

O’Neill said: “He ran very well at Meydan first time this season so we were very hopeful coming here today.”

Tawajud looked likely to win a 1700m maiden comfortably for President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan with Champion Jockey, Tadhg O’Shea always looking confident.

However, the Eric Lemartinel trainee, having his fourth career start, was forced to dig deep in the closing stages to hold off the late, lunging, challenge of Salah Al Mels.

“We thought he had a big chance,” said O’Shea. “The longer trip was perhaps a question but he lasted home.”

The opening 2000m maiden was a significant event for Goran Mesetovic who ensured his 12th mount in a first UAE season was a winning one, while his mount, Al Harth was breaking his maiden at the 25th time of asking.

Never far off the pace, Mesetovic and Al Harth always looked in pole position and, once they hit the front entering the straight, the result was in little doubt.

A first local success for the jockey, it was a second for trainer, Khalifa Al Neyadi.

The meeting concluded with a 1200m handicap won by Majd Abu Dhabi, ridden by Marc Monaghan for Hardy Hotger, while Ibrahim Assel was able to celebrate his first winner as a trainer.

Ridden by Sam Hitchcott, the handler’s ES Tango went straight to the front and was never headed in a 1200m maiden.