Change in tactics works wonders for Faith And Fortune in Al Ain

Maiden success in 10 local starts for Cityscape gelding

Sandro Paiva on board Faith And Fortune comes clear at Al Ain’s fourth meeting on Saturday. Courtesy Emirates Racing Authority

With two runs under his belt, a change in tactics proved the right ploy for Faith And Fortune with a first success in 10 local starts.

Sandro Paiva in the saddle allowed the Cityscape gelding to win the solitary prize that was on offer for the thoroughbreds at Al Ain’s fourth race meeting on Saturday.

Faith And Fortune was a close fourth on his reappearance in Sharjah on October 31 and was third at Jebel Ali last week.

“He should have won at Jebel Ali but a change of riding plans did the trick tonight,” Jilani Siddiqui, assistant to the Grandstand Stables trainer Al Rashid Al Raihe, said.

“He was allowed to do what he wanted, that’s to allow him make the running. He stayed the trip [1,600m] well and I would like to think he will be effective over anything from 1,200m to 1,600m.”

Faith And Fortune’s first two races on local soil were in the Dubai World Cup Carnival for South African trainer Mike de Kock.

He raced twice for the Zabeel Stables trainer Satish Seemar before being bought out of the local sales by Al Raihe’s grandson Humaid.

“He’s run against better horses when he first arrived in the UAE and obviously a horse with potential, which he proved tonight,” Siddiqui said of his 12-length romp over Erwan Charpy’s Wings Of Gold, the best of the chasing pack in the 15-runner field.

“He dictated the pace and did his job well tonight. The boss will decide where he goes next.”

Helal Al Alawi celebrated a double on the night in the mixed seven-race card with two different jockeys.

French apprentice Hugo Lebouc rode Ghazwan Al Khalediah to victory in the second race and Al Alawi’s stable jockey Pat Cosgrave was atop Dinar Al Khalediah in the next win half hour later.