Sharjah: The curtains came down on the 2017-2018 racing season at the Sharjah Racing & Equestrian Club on Saturday, with a lively card of six races highlighted by the prestigious HH The Ruler of Sharjah Cup presented by The Longines Master Collection.
ES Ajeeb, who had been very reluctant to load, was soon out in front under Sam Hitchcott and led by 10 lengths approaching the final turn for home
However, exiting the home turn, he turned the wrong way and unseated his jockey Sam Hitchcott.
MH Rahal was left in front and was soon challenged by AF Maher, who despite drifting wide under Antinio Fresu ran on well to win and complete a double for Ernst Oertel and champion owner Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda.
The horse has now won all three of his outings on dirt and was winning for the fourth time this season. Fresu said: “I thought I might finish second because the leader was well clear but suddenly veered off leaving us with a good chance. My horse has then drifted off the inside rail and headed for the outside one, but in fairness responded well in the final 200 metres once I corrected him.
The winning jockey added campaign and I thank connections for the opportunities they have afforded me this season.”
The opening 1200-metre maiden attracted the maximum field of 16, but from the outset only three of the runners ever looked a likely winner. Antonio Fresu was soon in front aboard AF Shuzza, tracked by his stable companion AF Amjad along with Aasif Al Rawasi, originally the first reserve. Just after halfway Fresu’s mount weakened quickly at which point Tadhg O’Shea drove debutant AF Amjad to lead and they never looked in any danger, despite Aasif Al Rawasi plugging on gamely for Connor Beasley.
Trained by Oertel the winner, like AF Maher, was also bred by Al Nabooda and O’Shea said: “I have enjoyed a lot of success over many years in these colours, as well as for Ernst, and you always know when riding one for them you have a chance. O’Shea added: “It was a good winning debut and the horse is only going to improve for the experience.”
The final race, the Sharjah Marathon, a 2,700-metre handicap lacked the drama of the feature — much to the relief of Hitchcott, who led for the final circuit aboard The Secret. Trained by Doug Watson, the eight-year-old could safely be described as a course specialist as all six career wins have been registered at the track and he was winning this race for the third consecutive year.
These have been his only victories since December 2015 when he completed a rapid course hat-trick.
Watson said: “He just loves it at Sharjah where everything obviously suits him and Sam has given him a very good ride this afternoon. Obviously, given his course record and, particularly, in this race, we had to be quite hopeful and he has delivered again.”
The Secret has actually now won the Sharjah Marathon under three different jockeys with Paul Hanagan aboard in 2016 and Jim Crowley doing the steering last year.
The only Thoroughbred contest, a 1200m handicap, produced a trip down memory lane for local race enthusiasts with Brett Doyle a dual UAE champion jockey just over 20 years ago, riding his first winner of the season for his old employer Major General Shaikh Ahmad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Head of Dubai Police and Public Security.
A two-time UAE champion, Doyle is currently here as a work rider for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby, but also rides occasionally. He finished second for Godolphin at Meydan on Thursday aboard Eynhallow, his only Dubai World Cup Carnival appearance this year.
