Ghalib stepped down in class and ended a seven-race winless streak with victory in an 1,800-metre conditions race on Friday, while setting an Al Ain course record.
A former Group 2 winner in France, Ghalib contested the Group 1 middle and final rounds of the Al Maktoum Challenge in his past two races, but once sent clear by the apprentice jockey Marc Monaghan yesterday he responded smartly and won for trainer Majed Al Jahouri and owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed.
“It looked a decent race but he had shown in France that he has a touch of class, as he showed there,” Monaghan said. “It was a good win and a great ride to come in for.”
In the preceding 1,600m conditions race only six went to the post, and the field was reduced to five when Tadgh O’Shea’s mount reared and threw the jockey.
His absence left the way clear for Haajeb, also owned by Sheikh Mansour but trained by Yousef Al Bloushi, to win his first local race, on his fourth attempt.
“I am not sure how strong the race was, but he won it well,” said Saeed Al Mazrooei, the Emirati apprentice. “It is my first Al Ain win and my eighth in what has been a reasonable season.”
The only thoroughbred race on the card produced a first local victory for Sowalym, trained by Dhruba Selvaratnam.
Thomas Brown was in the saddle and the pair were behind the leaders with 300m left but hit the front at the 200m and finished strongly.
“If you saw this horse work in the mornings you would not believe this was his first UAE win,” Brown said. “He clearly likes this surface and, hopefully, there will be plenty of opportunities for him back here next season.”
Despite starting on the outside of a 14-horse maiden field, the Ernst Oertel-trained debutant Nashmee won a 1,600m race with Tadhg O’Shea on board.
“He is a nice young horse and a full brother to the very useful Neishan,” O’Shea said, “but he is a nervous type, so I was quite happy to be drawn in 14 as it meant I could keep him out of trouble.”
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