MEYDAN staged a third consecutive Sunday afternoon meeting last weekend, not a Carnival event.

The official highlight of the day was a 10-furlong turf handicap which, on paper, looked competitive. In reality, it proved a relatively straightforward task for the Irish-bred First Winter, and once he was sent to the front with less than two furlongs to race by Ray Dawson, the pair never looked likely to be denied.

Saddled by Ahmad bin Harmash for Sultan Ali, the six-year-old former Godolphin gelding by Dubawi was adding to a mile turf course victory a fortnight ago, his first local success, and he now has four wins to his name.

First Winter was purchased by his trainer for the equivalent of about €125,000 in April, 2021. He is a half-brother to the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat winner Aesop’s Fables, and his dam is a stakes-placed Sadler’s Wells half-sister to Lammtara.

Dawson said: “He was actually running well at the end of the last campaign. That was actually the first time I have ridden him this season, so it was great to get back on him and win.”

Rashed Bouresly has his and the Bouresly Racing Syndicate string in great form, and provided the impressive winner of a seven-furlong turf handicap, From his low draw in stall four, the winner, Abshrek, was never headed under Oscar Chavez.

A 260,000gns yearling, the six-year-old gelded son of Oasis Dream was purchased at the same sale as First Winter, though Abshrek cost a more modest equivalent of €43,000. He was a six-furlong maiden winner on the straight course at Meydan on his penultimate start before, from a poor draw, finishing well beaten in a handicap over that same course and distance. His two wins now mean he has repaid more than half of his purchase price.

Barely moved

Mickael Barzalona barely moved a muscle when landing a mile turf maiden aboard Made In Dubai for Salem bin Ghadayer and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum.

The four-year-old gelded son of More Than Ready was making it third time lucky this year, after finishing runner-up on both of his previous 2023 outings. All his 11 career appearances have been in the UAE.

Made is the fifth winner from his dam, and cost Rabbah Bloodstock 145,000gns at Tattersalls in April, 2021.

The best of the dirt action was an 11-furlong handicap, won cosily by Bramwell who chased the early pace before being committed for home less than two furlongs out by Antonio Fresu. They were never going to be caught after that. The Godolphin-bred sold at the Racing In Dubai Sale for about €46,000 in September 2021.

The five-year-old Dubawi gelding was doubling his career tally, having also won his penultimate start, a 10-furlong Al Ain handicap, also under Fresu, for Musabbeh Al Mheiri and Jumaa Mubarak Al Junaibi.

Double up

Trainer and jockey completed a double in the concluding turf handicap over nine furlongs, Law Of Nature landing the prize in the colours of Rashid Al Shehhi and Tawfiq Mohammed. The five-year-old Ecurie des Monceaux-bred son of Siyouni was winning for the second time, both in the UAE. Both wins have also come since the €240,000 yearling buy at Arqana sold at the April 2021 Racing In Dubai Sale for only €15,000 or so, purchased by Tawfiq Mohammed of Union Racing.

Never far off the pace in a seven-furlong turf maiden, restricted to three-year-olds, Bernardo Pinheiro and the Rathbarry Stud-bred Noor Bano always appeared in control once they hit the front with about a furlong and a half to run. Saddled by Ismail Mohammed for Sultan Ali, the daughter of Kodi Bear was opening her account at the fifth attempt, and on her third UAE outing.

Noor Bano had twice finished third over six furlongs on this turf track. She is the first winner for her stakes-placed dam, Colour Blue, a five-time winner for the late Garrett Freyne.

Having taken 21 starts to shed his maiden tag, Lake Causeway made it consecutive victories with a gritty effort in the seven-furlong dirt handicap, the six-year-old gelded son of Creative Cause responding gamely to every question asked by Antonio Fresu, riding in the colours of John Walter Moraes for Bhupat Seemar.

The opening purebred Arabian contest, a six-furlong conditions race on dirt, was won comfortably by Najm Al Wathba, the homebred four-year-old colt registering consecutive victories under Bernardo Pinheiro for Majed Al Jahoori. He has made just four starts.