Having successfully defended their Champion Trainer and Jockey titles, Ernst Oertel and Tadhg O’Shea are finishing the UAE season in style and combined to win half of the six Purebred Arabian contests at Al Ain’s final meeting of their first season on Thursday, highlighted by the victory of Callateral in the featured Al Ain Mile.
A winner over the same 1,600-metre course and distance two weeks ago when breaking the track record in a handicap, O’Shea’s mount coped admirably with the step up in class, impressing his jockey in the process.
“He is improving and has really enjoyed this Al Ain surface on his last two starts but has also won on dirt at Sharjah and turf at Abu Dhabi this season,” O’Shea said. “He has not had much racing and is hopefully going to continue to do so next season.”
O’Shea was expressing similar sentiments earlier in the afternoon when Rb Dixie Burning defended her unbeaten record in an 1,800m handicap, breaking the track record in the process. An Al Ain winner over 1,400m in a maiden on her debut, she followed up over 1,600m at Abu Dhabi but arguably posted a career best on Thursday afternoon.
O’Shea said: “She is a lovely filly with very little mileage. Hopefully she can go through the ranks next season as we really rate her.”
The treble was completed by Forgehill Cezanne, gutsy winner of the concluding 3,000m handicap, the longest Purebred Arabian contest in the UAE calendar. All three winners are owned by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, the President of the UAE.
The only Thoroughbred race on the card, a 1,600m handicap, was won by the Ali Rashid Al Raihe-trained Ghaamer who broke the track record under Dane O’Neill, sporting the colours of his main employer, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed. They made almost all of the running and O’Neill said: “We had a good draw in one to get to the front which is his preferred style of racing. He has done that nicely in what had looked a competitive race.”
The meeting opened with an 1,800m maiden, won by Cercina with Carlos Sandoval in the saddle for Jaber Bittar and a second 1,800m maiden went to Tamooh S, a first winner of the season for trainer Michael Kettle. Sam Hitchcott was in the saddle and Kettle said: “That is brilliant because this is my last Purebred Arabian runner and Jardim will be my last runner at Jebel Ali tomorrow.”
The day’s easiest winner was Dere’A Al Jazeera, ridden by Wayne Smith to a five-length victory in a second 1,800m handicap for Saifaldin Deeb. The pair quickened to go clear 300m out after which the result was never in doubt.
Smith said: “I was always going as well as any of the runners and he took me to the leaders travelling very strongly. When I asked him to quicken he did and settled matters in a few strides. It was a big win.”
All eyes on Interpret at Jebel Ali on Friday
Friday’s final Jebel Ali meeting of the season is highlighted by a 1,800-metre conditions race in which the Musabah Al Muhairi-trained Interpret will attempt to add another victory to his Listed Jebel Ali Stakes win. There are six races scheduled in all for Friday’s meeting, beginning at 2.15pm, with the final race starting at 5.05pm.
sports@thenational.ae
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
if you go
The flights
Fly to Rome with Etihad (www.etihad.ae) or Emirates (www.emirates.com) from Dh2,480 return including taxes. The flight takes six hours. Fly from Rome to Trapani with Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) from Dh420 return including taxes. The flight takes one hour 10 minutes.
The hotels
The author recommends the following hotels for this itinerary. In Trapani, Ai Lumi (www.ailumi.it); in Marsala, Viacolvento (www.viacolventomarsala.it); and in Marsala Del Vallo, the Meliaresort Dimore Storiche (www.meliaresort.it).
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 217hp at 5,750rpm
Torque: 300Nm at 1,900rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh130,000
On sale: now
Scoreline
Liverpool 3
Mane (7'), Salah (69'), Firmino (90')
Bournemouth 0
RESULTS
Manchester United 2
Anthony Martial 30'
Scott McTominay 90 6'
Manchester City 0
Key products and UAE prices
iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229
iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649
iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179
Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
Graduated from the American University of Sharjah
She is the eldest of three brothers and two sisters
Has helped solve 15 cases of electric shocks
Enjoys travelling, reading and horse riding