IT was a case of third time lucky for the Zabeel Stables team at Jinma Lake racecourse last Saturday when Richard Mullen piloted Start Right to feature race victory in the Chengdu Dubai International Cup presented by Longines.

The Chengdu Dubai International Cup raceday was the culmination of a week of media events based around the meeting organised by the Meydan Group, under the Emirates Racing Authority rules of racing (a signatory to the International Federation of Horseracing Authority), in partnership with the Chengdu Municipal Government, the Chengdu Sports Bureau, the Wenjiang District Government and China Guangsha Group.

The Satish Seemar-trained nine-year-old recorded a length victory over Doug Watson’s Jutland under Sam Hitchcott, with Seemar’s Layali Al Andalus running on for third a short-head further back.

Skygazer, trained by Ali Rashid Al Raihe, was declared a non-runner after unseating his jockey, Tadhg O’Shea.

“We’ve been coming here for the last two years but this is our first winner,” said Bhupat Seemar, assistant trainer to Satish.

“Start Right is always very consistent and he was third in this last year. The loose horse actually helped him because he goes to the front and stops. Layali Al Andulas ran a good race too, finishing third so it’s been a great trip.”

The race card featured five races worth a total of RMB 3.75m (US$604,536).

DOUBLE

Trainer Musabah Al Muhairi continued his recent run of good form when adding a double to the two Dubai World Cup victories a week earlier. Al Muhairi won the opening race with his Damar ridden by Xavier Ziani in the seven furlong Wenjiang Sprint and followed up with success in the mile Guangsha Handicap for Court Room under Adrie de Vries.

Ismael Mohammed was another who saddled two winners when Stamford won the Meydan Handicap under Szczepan Mazur while Expert won the mile Wenjiang-Meydan Classic under Irish apprentice Marc Monaghan.

Chengdu is situated in the South West of China and is the capital of Sichuan province. One of the the largest cities on mainland China, it is a city of historical and cultural significance and acts as a centre for politics, culture, science, education, commerce, finance and international trade.

Earlier in the week some of the jockeys and trainers were on hand to meet members of the Chinese media at the Jinma Lake racecourse including Golden Shaheen-winning trainer Musabah Al Muhairi, French trainer Erwan Charpy and jockeys Jesus Rosales and Marc Monaghan.

Also among the party was Irishman Noel Connolly, assistant to Godolphin Mile-winning trainer, Doug Watson.

Meydan Board Member, Mohammed Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al Shehhi said: “The 2016 renewal of the Chengdu Dubai International Cup has been a great success.

“Now in its third year, this race day is one of the results of the ongoing relationship that exists between Meydan Group and the Government of Chengdu.

“We are very happy to be here once again to share our knowledge and passion for horse racing with the people of this city and further strengthen the international ties between our two groups and our two countries.”