A SIX-RACE card at Jebel Ali last Saturday afternoon had two feature races, handicaps over seven furlongs and a mile. The latter, sponsored by Shadwell, included a host of proven performers taken on by the once-raced Mersaal, winner on this course over six furlongs three weeks earlier.

The four-year-old Ghostzapper gelding, a $115,000 Keeneland purchase by Irish bloodstock agent Joseph Burke, was settled in the rear by Jean Van Overmaire before easing into contention in the straight and settling matters with almost a furlong to go. Mersaal races for the racecourse patron Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and his principal trainer Michael Costa, who is based at the adjacent Sheikh Ahmed Stables.

Mersaal won by three-parts of a length from the 2020 Group 3 UAE Oaks heroine Down On Da Bayou, herself a dual winner over this course and distance last season.

The dual feature over seven furlongs was contested at a frenetic early gallop, with those who raced prominently dropping away over the final furlong and a half, leaving the Shadwell duo of Almoreb and Fanaar, both initially settled well off the pace, to fight out the finish, the latter prevailing under Dane O’Neill for Doug Watson.

A six-year-old Irish-bred gelding by Dark Angel, Fanaar was recording a third career success, but just his first in the UAE, having won twice in Britain for William Haggas, latterly in March 2019. He was a £240,000 Goffs UK Yearling Sale purchase by Shadwell from Glenvale Stud.

Double up

Half an hour later Watson was celebrating a double after Pat Dobbs and Silver Jubilee, homebred in Ireland by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, registered a cosy success in a mile maiden for three-year-olds.

Having finished no better than fourth after five starts in France last year, the son of Dubawi showed promise in both outings last season in the UAE, finishing runner-up on the Meydan turf in March, and then at Jebel Ali when a slow start hindered his chances a fortnight later.

Another mile handicap attracted the only capacity field on the card, 14, and it also went to Watson, courtesy of the Irish National Stud-bred Mayaadeen, the seven-year-old completing a treble for the trainer and doubles for both O’Neill and Shadwell.

Watson said: “He ran really well on his return over seven furlongs and he has stayed the mile well today. To have a double for Shadwell and Sheikha Hissa is great, as is of course a treble for the yard.” The son of Invincible Spirit, a €750,000 Goffs Orby yearling, was winning for the fifth time.

First winner

The meeting kicked off with a seven-furlong maiden, a memorable occasion for Ahmed Al Shemaili who saddled his first winner from his new Meydan base at Grandstand Stables, the four-year-old colt Ibra Attack and Adrie de Vries posting a narrow victory for Elbashir Salem Elhrari.

After a slow start, de Vries was soon able to find a handy position before striking for home a furlong out, and they always appeared likely to hold on, despite some late challenges. Making it third time lucky, the son of Dialed In had finished third on both his previous outings.

Only four faced the starter in the concluding handicap, over nine and a half furlongs, and only one ever really mattered. The only three-year-old in the field, First Of November never saw another rival under Royston Ffrench in the silks of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum for Salem bin Ghadayer.

A son of Bernardini, First Of November was doubling his career tally, adding this victory to a maiden, over the same course and distance, on his third and final start of last season. Beaten on his first two outings this season, he bounced back in style here.

Two others

Just two other thoroughbred races were run in the period under review. At Al Ain, a 10-furlong maiden produced a surprise winner, with Ray Dawson delivering Vasilakos, trained by Ahmad bin Harmash for Mohammed Ahmad Al Subousi, to lead in the dying strides, denying last season’s Group 3 UAE Oaks runner-up Arabian Gazelles by a neck.

A four-year-old Godolphin-bred son of Dubawi, Vasilakos was third on his sole previous racecourse appearance, on the Chelmsford all-weather, for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby. That was December 2020, some 701 days before this success. He was purchased for 42,000gns by Ahmed Bintooq at this year’s Tattersalls February Sale.

The previous day, at Abu Dhabi, Royston Ffrench delivered Mordin to post a straightforward success for Abdullah Saeed Al Naboodah and Salem bin Ghadayer in an 11-furlong handicap on turf. Ffrench correctly picked from the trainer’s two runners. The eight-year-old Bernard Cooke-bred son of Invincible Spirit was registering his fifth career victory, but just his first in the UAE.

The winner was twice sold at Tattersalls, to Abbey Farm as a foal for 88,000gns, and to Blandford Bloodstock for 200,000gns at the Craven Breeze Up Sale.