RB Burn beats fancied Al Mourtajez to win Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown race

Trainer Eric Lemartinel and jockey Gerald Avranche combine to produce a surprise winner in Abu Dhabi, writes Amith Passela.

RB Burn, ridden by Gerald Avranche, won one of the best Purebred Arabian races in the world at Abu Dhabi on Sunday night. Erika Rasmussen for The National

ABU DHABI // RB Burn made a stunning introduction to racing in the UAE on Sunday night.

He stunned a world-class field – including Al Mourtajez, widely regarded as the world’s best Purebred Arabian in the world – to scoop the €1.2 million (Dh4.8m) Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown, the world’s richest race for the Purebred Arabians.

Ridden by Gerald Avranche for the Abu Dhabi-based trainer Eric Lemartinel, the colt burst through the 16-runner field to win by three-quarters of a length from the French-trained pair Mabrooka and Sylvine Al Maury.

Al Mourtajez could only finish sixth after racing prominently behind the pace-making Thakif over the 1,600-metre distance.

Sahabba, the runner-up last year, and AF Mathmoon, the Dubai Kahayla Classic winner, finished fourth and fifth respectively.

Kalino, last year’s winner, trailed in 11th.

Lemartinel has been following the American-bred colt’s progress in France since he was purchased by Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa last year.

“He had a lot of speed,” the trainer said. “He was pulling hard over long distance races and didn’t have much luck in some of the races in France.

“I thought his optimum was 1,600 to 1,800m. He travelled so well over here tonight.

“We also had the blinkers on for the first time because when I saw him in France, I observed him looking left and right. He concentrated on his job tonight.”

It was RB Burn’s third and biggest career victory from nine starts. And for a four year old, he is sure to have a bright future in the UAE with the Dubai Kahayla Classic as an obvious target.

The two main supporting prizes on the six-race card were won by the most experienced riders in the two races.

Catherine Walton steered RB Dixie Burning to an emphatic win in the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship on RB Dixie Burning for Lemartinel’s first of the two winners on the night.

The Briton, 29, arrived with 119 career winners and showed her vast experience by taking the shortest way home.

“She was moving nicely,” Walton said. “I only had to use my hands and heels, and once she got into the front on the final bend she just pulled away. Obviously, I’m delighted with this title.”

The Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Apprentice Championship went to an Australian for the second time in a row.

Brent Thompson claimed the prize last year and Dylan Dunn repeated the trick on the Jean de Roualle-trained Qader, making all the running for a resounding win by more than seven lengths over the 1,600-metre distance.

Dunn, 21, with 121 career winners, was the most experienced of the dozen riders and he showed his class by steering Qader to his first win in eight starts.

“Dylan rode a beautiful race,” Qader’s handler De Roualle said. “He knows how the pace is going, the speed is going and that’s the base for a good jockey.”

The winning jockey added: “It’s a massive thrill for me. I was able to get the horse to relax there in the front early on and getting it to switch back on and once I was able to do that it was pretty much simple from there.”

Ernst Oertel, the Dubai-based South African trainer, and Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda, the Emirati owner-breeder, enjoyed an early double under two different jockeys, Richard Mullen and Lyle Hewitson.

Hewitson, 18, achieved a double milestone on the night. The South African jockey made a dream debut in the UAE, winning his first ever ride on the capital’s track and recording his 100th career victory.

“It simply amazing to win in a race where there were top jockeys,” Hewitson said. “It was really a close race and it was fantastic to come out on tops. It was my first ride in the UAE and to end up completing the 100th career win was very, very special.”

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