Abu Dhabi: Trainer Jaber Bittar was the man to follow in the Classics at Abu Dhabi on Sunday evening, as he saddled Nawarat Al Reef to win the Abu Dhabi Fillies’ Classic before, 30 minutes later, his Meftah Al Reef landed the Abu Dhabi Colts’ Classic, both over a mile.
Jesus Rosales was in the saddle on Nawarat Al Reef, making only her second racecourse appearance after a promising third on her debut over 1,000-metres on the Sharjah dirt.
Seemingly struggling early on, they rallied to victory, much to the delight of Rosales.
“She made a very good debut over a trip probably too short,” she said. “She has more than coped with these different circumstances and, hopefully, is a filly with a bright future.”
Trainer Bittar was celebrating a second Classic winner when Meftah Al Reef and Wayne Smith claimed the Abu Dhabi Colts’ Classic. Never far off the early pace, Smith went for home early in the straight and the pair never looked likely to be caught.
“This is always a good yard to ride for,” said Smith. “They have plenty of nice horses so you always know you have a chance. This fellow had already won on dirt at Sharjah, so is clearly versatile.”
The official feature, the Group 3 Abu Dhabi Championship, like both Classics over 1,600-metres, was won by AS Enjaz, ridden by Silvestre de Sousa for his main employer, Musabah Al Muhairi.
The pair made virtually all the running and De Sousa said: “The plan was always to be positive and it worked well. Every time I asked he found and that was a good win.”
The only Thoroughbred race on the card, a 1,400-metre handicap, went to Royal Revival, a first winner of the season for apprentice Marc Monaghan, riding for his boss, Satish Seemar.
Elsewhere, Sam Hitchcott won the 1,600-metre maiden for Bakhit Al Ketbi aboard Barek W’Rsan and Eric Lemartinel combined with Gerald Avranche to land a 1,200-metre handicap.
