ABU DHABI // As has so often been the case this season, Al Asayl-based Englishman Rod Simpson was the trainer to follow on Sunday, saddling two of the six winners, including a 1-2 in the featured Group 3 Arabian Triple Crown Round III. Only five went to post for the 12-furlong feature and, as it had been in Round II over a furlong shorter, it was the Simpson pair - Jazeerat Alsadyaat and Elmalak Elwaheed - who fought out the finish with, on this occasion, the latter prevailing under Richard Mullen.
The only filly in the race, she ran straight and true in the closing stages, as opposed to her stable companion who wandered across the track throughout the last two furlongs and probably would have won otherwise. Simpson was pleased: "Obviously it is a great result for the yard and they are two really nice young horses with masses of scope to improve," he said. Daragh O'Donohoe may have been out of luck in that race on the runner-up but won the concluding mile maiden on Le Gusta Bailar to complete the trainer's double.
Ahmad Ajtebi rode a supremely confident race on the Mubarak Bin Shafya-trained Stalking Shadow in the only Thoroughbred race, a 1300m handicap. Settled in last, it was only turning for home that Ajtebi asked his mount to close - producing a sweeping run down the outside to win going away. Al Sha'yet W'Rsan won the opening 11-furlong maiden for Jaci Wickham, with William Buick in the saddle, before Eric Lemartinel and Tadhg O'Shea combined for a quickfire double; Mazoof II winning a second 11-furlong maiden before Rakeel won a third maiden.
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