RACING at Meydan last Friday was sponsored by Longines, and had as its feature a six-furlong handicap. This was won in stylish fashion by Union Racing and Abdallah Al Mamari’s Vasari, completing quick-fire doubles for Antonio Fresu and Musabbeh Al Mheiri, who would go on to bring up a pair of trebles.

Fresu bided his time on the rail as the early leaders set a frantic gallop. The rider switched out early in the straight and pounced with a little more than a furlong to run. This was a third career success for the Juddmonte-bred, five-year-old gelding by Muhaarar, and his second over this course and distance. His maiden success was gained over seven furlongs at Jebel Ali in February 2021.

The winner was purchased at Tattersalls for 25,000gns as a three-year-old. He was formerly trained by Sir Michael Stoute. Fresu said: “I was pretty confident coming here as I knew he was a lot fitter than last time, and we had a good draw. They went very quick, which has suited him, and that was a nice performance in a good race.”

Riding for Elbashir Salem Elhrari and Al Mheiri, Fresu delivered Emdakam fast and late to land the preceding mile maiden, the four-year-old Twilight Son colt making it third time lucky at Meydan on his seasonal debut, and returning from 351 days without competitive action. The colt sold at the Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Breeze Up Sale for £33,000.

The jockey and trainer then almost made it a third straight win with Graffiti Master closing rapidly as the line approached, but they were unable to deny Mulfit, partnered by Oscar Chavez for Doug Watson and Al Ghandi Racing. This was a third career win for the six-year-old Mulfit, a son of Exchange Rate, and victory came a year after he last visited the winners’ enclosure.

Trebles

Al Mheiri and Fresu were not to be denied their treble though, and they combined to land the concluding mile handicap with Street Mood for owner Jumaa Mubarak Al Junaibi. This three-year-old son of Street Boss closed out last season with a win over seven furlongs at Jebel Ali, and was runner-up recently on his seasonal reappearance. He is yet another graduate of a Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Breeze Up Sale, sold for just £20,000 last year.

For horses purchased at one of three ERA Racing in Dubai Sales, the one-mile Graduation Stakes, a conditions contest, was decided in the closing stages.

Island Rule, who looked a most unlikely winner with just one of his five rivals behind him on the final bend, flew home over the concluding furlong and a half, with Ray Dawson in the saddle for Ahmad bin Harmash and owner Hamdan Sultan Ali Alsabousi.

First time

A five-year-old gelded son of No Nay Never, Island Rule was winning for the first time since making a successful debut over seven furlongs at Jebel Ali on the equivalent Friday last year. This was his seventh start since, and these had yielded three runner-up placings among. A 400,000gns yearling buy, he sold in April 2021 for 130,000 AED, less than €35,000.

Dawson said: “He did not travel well today and I admit, turning for home, I thought I would be lucky to snatch second, but he enjoys chasing horses and undoubtedly has ability.”

A two-year-old maiden, over seven furlongs, was contested by a field of 15, but Pat Cosgrave always looked happy after taking up the running inside the final furlong, sending Royal Dubai clear halfway up the straight, the pair soon having the race in safekeeping.

A Seahenge colt, the French-bred Royal Dubai was just a third UAE winner for owner Saeed Sultan Al Rahoomi, and could well prove a value acquisition, having cost 46,000gns at Tattersalls at the end of April. He was sold by Hyde Park Stud who acquired him as a yearling at Osarus for only €4,000.

Ideal draw

The winning rider Pat Cosgrave said: “We had the ideal draw in stall one to be positive, although we were not the quickest away, but I was soon able to get the lead and he really settled matters in the final furlong and a half. He will stay a mile no problem and could be a nice horse for all the big three-year-old races next year.” Royal Dubai was in training with Marco Botti in England before his transfer to Bhupat Seemar.

A rare purebred Arabian opportunity at the UAE’s flagship racecourse, the nine and a half-furlong Group 2 Madjani Stakes kicked off proceedings and was dominated by the classy Kerless Del Roc, never headed under Fernando Jara in the silks of Al Ajban Stables for trainer Ahmed Al Mehairbi.

In repeating their victory in the race 12 months ago, the exciting five-year-old became the first dual winner of the race which was inaugurated in 2016. This was his second outing of the season after a pleasing reappearance on the Abu Dhabi turf a fortnight ago.

Jara said: “That was always the plan to be positive on him, and we knew he had improved with the benefit of that outing at Abu Dhabi. I think he will progress again ahead of the big races later in the season.”

Sharjah

Two days after the Meydan meeting, Sharjah’s six-race card included just a single contest for thoroughbreds. This was the HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup, a mile and half a furlong handicap. It provided the undoubted highlight with Richard Mullen shining aboard Shanty Star for Rashed Bouresly and the Bouresly Racing Syndicate.

The six-year-old gelding by Hard Spun swept past stable companion Sendeed on the final turn, and the move proved to be a shrewd one, the pair never looking likely to be denied. It was a fourth start already this season for the gelding who has improved with each outing, and is now the winner of four races, this being his first success away from the Meydan dirt track.

Antonio Fresu rode a double on a productive weekend, following his Meydan treble on Friday, while multiple champion Tadhg O’Shea took his tally to 14 for the season, five ahead of Fresu.

The Irishman was successful on AF Mouhayer, saddled by Ernst Oertel for Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda, the pair able to concede weight to all 14 rivals in a 10-furlong handicap.