MEYDAN on Saturday featured a quality nine-furlong turf handicap, a race that would not have been out of place at the 2021 Dubai World Cup Carnival.

However, it was a straightforward assignment for Eastern World who demolished his 15 rivals.

One of three in the race to represent Godolphin and Charlie Appleby, the homebred four-year-old Dubawi gelding was settled in second by Royston Ffrench who, three furlongs out, made his effort and from then on the race was over as a contest. This was the winner’s local debut and he was doubling his career tally, having won a mile maiden last June at Newmarket.

Eastern World is a half-brother to Thunder Snow, the dual winner of the Dubai World Cup.

Five of the 11 runners in the opening mile maiden on dirt for three-year-old colts and geldings were debutants. One of them, Panadol, proved far too good. In front from the off under Mickael Barzalona, sporting the silks of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, the son of Flatter burst clear at the top of the straight and was never in danger.

Trained by Salem bin Ghadayer, Panadol was purchased as a juvenile last June at Ocala for $180,000. His trainer said: “We have always thought he was one of our best, in his age group, in the yard. We gave him plenty of time before his debut and will now, probably, look at the Al Bastakiya and, hopefully, the UAE Derby.”

Two races later connections were celebrating a double after the smooth success of Monoski in the mile dirt handicap. A homebred four-year-old gelding by Street Boss, it was a second career success for the winner, but his first in the UAE and on dirt. Mark Johnston saddled him to win at two.

Another contest for three-year-olds was the seven-furlong turf maiden. The sole debutant, Mayehaab, landed the spoils under a confident ride from Adrie de Vries. A gelded son of New Approach, the winner is owned by Hasan Mefareh Alajmi in partnership with Fawzi Nass, who trains him, and he cost 72,000gns at Tattersalls last July when bought by Oliver St Lawrence from Egmont Stud.

Double up

The trainer and jockey completed a double courtesy of Madkhal who was not extended to land the six-furlong dirt handicap. The trainer owns this winner, a five-year-old son of Distorted Humor, outright. Madkhal won once in Britain for Saeed bin Suroor and Godolphin and this doubled his Meydan dirt tally.

The concluding six-furlong turf handicap attracted a capacity field of 16, but the winner Taneen went clear just after halfway under Dane O’Neill and they never had a moment of concern afterwards. The eight-year-old Speighstown gelding doubled his UAE tally and was twice victorious in Britain for Roger Varian. O’Neill was riding for his main employer, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and trainer Musabbeh Al Mheiri.

Four-timer dedicated to Pat Buckley

Abu Dhabi, February 14th

THE Abu Dhabi turf played host to six races on Sunday and UAE champion Tadhg O’Shea landed a memorable four-timer, including doubles for both Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda and Ernst Oertel.

Just one of the races on the card was for thoroughbreds, the concluding mile maiden, and O’Shea was in the saddle on the winner, Law Of Peace.

The four-year-old Shamardal gelding was having his first start in the colours of Nasir Askar and since joining Satish Seemar. O’Shea unleashed his winning effort just outside the furlong marker. Raced four times in Britain by Charlie Appleby for Godolphin, Law Of Peace was runner-up three times, beaten a nose and a neck on his first two runs, and was sold for about €27,000 at the ERA Sale in September.

He should be open to improvement considering his previous appearance, after which he was gelded, was 376 days prior to his UAE debut win. O’Shea said: “I actually rode four [winners] here about 10 years ago when the late Pat Buckley told me to ‘go home and think how I could have ridden five, come back and do it sometime’. I did not quite manage that but will dedicate these four to Pat.”

Al Ain, February 12th

THE final race on the card, and the only one for thoroughbreds, was a 13- furlong handicap. The number 13 is clearly a lucky number for Arabian Moon who, having failed to win in a dozen previous racecourse appearances, is a maiden no more.

Trained locally in Al Ain for Fahad Mohd Aloraini by Helal Al Alawi, the four-year-old gelded son of Al Kazeem was held up in rear by Pat Cosgrave before easing into contention on the home turn, taking up the running approaching the furlong pole, and holding on for victory.

This was just his fourth career start for current connections. Arabian Moon was placed a number of times when trained by Ralph Beckett. He sold at the Tattersalls August Sale last year for 22,000gns to Al Alawi and New Approach Bloodstock.