(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Trainer Watson praises jockey Dobbs after Diwaan powers to glory in 2000-metre race.
Shaikh Khalid Al Qassimi won all stages on the final day of the Oman International Rally. — Supplied photo
Sharjah: Diwaan ridden by Patrick Dobbs got up in the dying strides to pip the mount of Richard Mullen Shihab by just a short-head on the shadow of the post to land the 2000m TB Handicap sponsored by Sharjah Police HQs the fourth and only Thoroughbred event on the six-race card at the Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club here on a lovely Saturday afternoon.
The two horses kicked away from the rest of the field and went strike for strike as the post loomed up with Diwaan going home better when it mattered.
“I think Dobbs has made the right choice when he opted to go for Diwaan and not top weight Dr Faustus” said former champion trainer Doug Watson. “I always believe in Diwaan’s capabilities as a stayer over nine to ten furlongs but there are no many suitable races for him” he said.
Adrian Nicholls teamed up with champion trainer Ernst Oertel to bring Razeen home in the Sharjah Sport Council-sponsored Purebred Arabians Maiden opening race on the card over six furlongs. The four-year-old son of Elios De Carrere got up at midway to run down early leader Al Anid under the Al Asyl Stables’ retained jockey Tadhg O’Shea who was also relegated to third by the mount of Ismail Koyuncu Rocky CS on the line.
Latifa Princess was in full flow under a strong drive of Royston Ffrench to kick away and lead by a long margin in the second race a 1200m Purebred Arabians Handicap sponsored by Sharjah Municipality.
British champion apprentice jockey Oisin Murphy onboard Atab left the machines very quickly to set a steady pace and looked like a winner at one stage. However Royston Ffrench said go and his mount responded keenly to win by more than six lengths.
Royston didn’t have to wait for long to complete a double after he rode ES Muzahim to victory in the 1000m Sharjah Electricity & Water Authority-sponsored Purebred Arabians Maiden third race on the card.
George Buckell started well with AS Enjaz and was joined from the centre of the field by ES Kram under Adrian Nicholls before a line of six has developed as the pack approached the two furlong marker. At this point Ffrench took his mount to the extreme outside and lodged his claim in the last 150 yards.
The fifth race a 2000m Purebred Arabians Handicap sponsored by Government of Sharjah Directorate of Public Works was won by Bedayer Al Asayl under Tadhg O’Shea. And Royston Ffrench completed the first treble of the season onboard top weight AF Farooq in the final race a 1700m Purebred Arabians UAE-Bred Rated maiden sponsored by Sharjah Sport TV.
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