 Trainer Mazin Al Kurdi's Seniorita, ridden by Ted Durcan, lived up to his top rating with a superb win to clinch the His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Triple Crown Round III (Group 3) race at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club racecourse here last night.
Mazin Al Kurdi registered a brilliant 1-2 finish in the feature event with Round II winner Ryan Giggs (Gary Hind astride) following stablemate Seniorita home in a reversal of placing while the popular Alanudd son Mijdadd finished a gallant third.
After another Mazin-runner Christian Ronaldo had set the early pace, Ryan Giggs was the first to make the move on the home stretch. Then both Mijdadd and Seniorita battled for a while before the latter broke away to win convincingly with Ryan Giggs staying on near the rails about two lengths behind.
Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Chief of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court and Chairman of the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation, who sponsored this third round, gave away the trophies.
Earlier, the evening's action opened with Better Mix giving the Steeds Syndicate their second win here in the capital. Named Better Mix after an announcement on 'Radio Two - The better Mix' led to the formation of the Steeds Syndicate, the 5-year-old bay gelding was thus named and soon made a winning debut here last year.
Yesterday jockey Stanley Chin and Better Mix snatched the small opening near the rails and the Mussabah Al Muhairi finished off with Delude (Ted Durcan astride) coming second with a strong finish from the outside.
The Mohammed Ali-trained R.S. Kerim unseated jockey David Hayse when the runners were off to the starter's blocks and gave his handlers a tough time before he was calmed down and loaded.
The 5-year-old son of Bibi De Carrere, who made a winning debut in Ghantoot, however did very well to win the 1,200 metre sprint which had some quality runners in the field. Crowd favourites Taloomany and Tabbah were unplaced.
"He is quite a bit of a character," said Hayse, commenting on Kerim's antics. "He has got me a couple of times while working on the track too. However once he got the breaking heading for home he went on to win well," said Hayse, who has been having a good season here.
Hayse completed the night's racing with a double when he steered the Yancey Carter-trained Baynona to a win in the final race.
A drop in class for Lazia Lotois served the Deeb Saif El Din-trained filly well as jockey Robert Burke partnered her to a fluent win in the night's third race over 1,300 metres.
After a poor outing on his debut on dirt in Nad Al Sheba, Gillian Duffield's Kinana (Richard Mullen up) came up with a second run when challenged on the home stretch to relegate Sarrab to a second place, the fourth time the Yancey Carter runner has had to contend with second best.
Have Fun, another Duffield runner with Richard Hills on board and the crowd favourite here finished third.
Results
1. The Sir Bu Nuair Handicap, Thorougbreds, 1,600 metres:
1. Better Mix (Mussabah Al Muhairi) Stanley Chin; 2. Delude (Mazin Al Kurdi) Ted Durcan; 3. Umm Al Qawain Star (Michael Kettle) Robert Burke.
Dist: 0.75L, 0.75, 0.50. Time: 1:35.62
2. The Abu Musa Island Conditions, Purebred Arabians, 1,200m:
1. RS Kerim (Mohammed Ali) David Hayse; 2. AF Amer Tahaddi (Gill Duffield) Gary Hind; 3. WS Aseel (Doug Watson) Willie Supple.
Dist: 2.50L, 3.25, .50 Time: 1:18.90.
3. The Al Khubaisi Conditions, Purebred Arabians, 1,300m:
1. Lazia Lotois (Deeb saif El Din) Robert Burke; 2. Juliett I (Julio Peromingo) Gary Hind; 3. Katleen Du Causse (Gill Duffield) Willie Supple.
Dist: 1.25L, 1L, 1.75L. T: 1:28.79
4. The Newmarket Racecourse Maiden, Purebred Arabians, 1,400m:
1. Al Lugez (James Frazier) John Carroll; 2. Al Towd (Doug Watson) Richard Hills; 3. Mag De Carrere (Deeb Saif El Din) Robert Burke.
Dist: 1.25L, 1.75L, 0.25L T: 1:35.21.
5. H.H Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Triple Crown Round III (Group 3), Purebred Arabians, 2,200m:
1. Seniorita (Mazin Al Kurdi) Ted Durcan; 2. Ryan Giggs (Mazin Al Kurdi) Gary Hind; 3. Mijdadd (Yancey Carter Jr.) David Hayse.
Dist: 1.50L, 2.25L, 3.25L. Time: 2:29.31
6. The Al Khatim Conditions, Purebred Arabians, 2,200m:
1. Kinana (Gillian Duffield) Richard Mullen; 2. Sarrab (Yancey Carter Jr.) Willie Supple; 3. Have Fun (Gillian Duffield) Richard Hills.
Dist: 0.50L, 1L, 0.75L. Time: 2:27.29
7. The Das Island Maiden, sponsored by Newmarket Racecourse, Purebred Arabians, 1,400m:
1. Baynona (Yancey Carter Jr) David Hayse; 2. Maymoune (Gillian Duffield) Richard Mullen; 3. Hubak Ajeeb (James Frazier Jr) Gaven Bire. |
