Ernst Oertel earns some breathing room in race to UAE trainer’s title

Tadhg O'Shea guides RB Dixie Burning for trainer Ernst Oertel to the win in Race3 at the Abu Dhbai Equestrian Club on March 9, 2014. Satish Kumar / The National

ABU DHABI // Ernst Oertel went four clear from his closest challenger Musabah Al Muhairi to take a firm hold in retaining the UAE trainer's championship for a second year running.

The South African saddled a double in the capital’s penultimate meeting on Sunday night to take his tally to 36, yet insisted churning out winners every week was his goal as opposed to the championship.

“We don’t worry about the championship, but just are just happy to saddle the winners,” the South African said after saddling a double at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club.

“The championship is at the end of the season and right now we have seven more meetings, including the Dubai World Cup meeting, to look ahead for and prepare the horses.”

Tadhg O’Shea, the stable jockey, rode RB Dixie Burning to an impressive victory to provide the first winner for Oertel, while Patrick Cosgrave steered Hab Nessnas home in first 30 minutes later.

RB Dixie Burning was winning for the second time in two starts and Oertel might bring her back next week for a crack at the UAE Arabian Derby in next week’s final meeting at the capital’s racecourse.

“We have a few horses already lined up for the Derby, but we’ll see how she has come out of this race and give her another,” he said.

“I was little worried, because the ground was hard today. She is a young filly and you start worrying about her shins.

“We will discuss with the owners and take a decision.”

RB Smokin Rich, third behind stable companion Hab Nesnas in the Handicap rated 0-65, was another Oertel was hoping to run in the Derby.

“We have a pretty good line-up of four year olds already aimed for this race, but Smokin Rich can be also considered. He ran a good race under top weight over the shorter mile trip.”

Paul Hanagan, the retained jockey for Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid, picked up the right horse, Jawhar, from the eight entered by the owner to win the concluding thoroughbred prize.

The two-time British champion jockey produced a sizzling late run in the home stretch to win from Mujrayaat and Funon to lead a 1-2-3 finish for Sheikh Hamdan.

“It was a very tough one to choose, but it made my trip [from Dubai] fully worth it for this only ride,” Hanagan said.

“I was always pretty confident as we got the cover he needed. He was quite keen and strong, and there was a strong gallop.”

The remaining prizes were shared by three different trainers and jockeys, with Mohammed Ramadan saddling his first for the season thanks to Royston Ffrench and Ubu Al Mels in the second race.

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