Dubai: Day one of the Dubai Duty Free International Weekend at Newbury Racecourse, UK, saw success for Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, in the feature race of the day, the Listed Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Cup.
Seven three-year-olds took on four older horses and it was the Richard Hannon-trained four-year-old Tabarrak in the colours of Shaikh Hamdan and ridden by Jim Crowley, who fought off a host of challengers in the gamest fashion to win by a narrow margin from Accidental Agent with another Hannon runner, George William, back in third.
The delighted trainer said, “Tabarrak could go to race in Dubai if the owner wishes. He has carried top weight here, just got caught in a Group Three at Salisbury and won in this company at Ascot before that. You can’t ask for more.”
Richard Hills, former first jockey to Shaikh Hamdan, represented the owner and, in addition to the race trophy, received a copy of the book commissioned to mark the 25th anniversary of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships from Executive Vice-Chairman and CEO, Colm McLoughlin and Senior Vice-President Marketing, Sinead Al Sibai.
Tabarrak was Hannon’s third winner of the afternoon after winning the opener with outsider, Orange Suit, and having further success in the Dubai Duty Free Nursery Handicap with Rogue, ridden by Tom Marquand.
In the Dubai Duty Free Handicap over a mile and a half, the crowd witnessed a first-class contest for improving young stayers.
This time it was nearly a disaster for Hannon and Ryan Moore as the former champion jockey was unseated on the way to the start.
When reunited, Moore rode with extra urgency but failed to catch Roger Charlton’s Blakeney Point.
“He cost nothing as a yearling but is the most consistent and admirable horse and we’ll hopefully be heading to the big staying handicaps after this,” said Charlton.
The 16,000-pound Dubai Duty Free Full Of Surprises EBF Stallions Fillies’ Conditions Stakes could not have been better named. Unconsidered 25-1 Magnolia Springs made a winning debut for another local trainer, Eve Johnson Houghton experiencing her best ever season.
“I love her, she’s gorgeous,” said Eve. “I’m not surprised. I’ll be back with Scarlet Dragon tomorrow.”
The meeting continues on Saturday when the feature race is the Group Two Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes.
