Reigning champion trainer Mazin Al Kurdi saddled a brace to all but close the gap on runaway leader Doug Watson on a day when just one favourite obliged in the popular Pick Six competition.
Al Kurdi won the first and fourth races with Ryan Giggs and Prince Of Denmark to move with one win of Watson, only to watch in frustration as the latter clinched the concluding race of the night with Classicist to retain a two-win cushion.
Watson, enjoying a great start to what is only his second season since he took charge of the championship-winning Red Stables from Kiaran McLaughlin, has amassed 15 winners for the term.
However, the night's feature race eluded the leading protagonists, as owner-trainer Rashid Bouresly sent out the rapidly improving Bosra's Valentine to win the DOM International Trophy over 1800 metres.
Gary Hind brought the Sadler's Wells colt through to lead with a furlong to run and the four-year-old quickly asserted his authority to win the 65-90 handicap by two and a half lengths from favourite Afghan, the mount of Ted Durcan.
"He's still improving," said Hind of the winner. "I think it's time he was stepped up in class and distance."
Hind stayed well away from front-running Cotoscol, ridden by Richard Mullen, who did not make this such a stamina test of the race until he was forced to pick up the pace when challenged by the favourite Afghan, the mount of Durcan.
That undoubtedly suited Bosra's Valentine who was last but one of the six runners till he quickened impressively to outpace the front runners and win as he liked.
Classicist, who had more to find in his last three outings including two second places, emerged as a superior winner of the Seih Al Salam handicap over 2000 metres.
He showed a good attitude under pressure and answered all the questions his rider Willie Supple asked of him to run out a consummate seven length winner over Rich Pickings.
Earlier in the evening Durcan enjoyed contrasting wins with Ryan Giggs, a short-head winner over Jilko in the Al Baraha Purebred Arabian handicap, and Prince Of Denmark who made all to win the Al Eyaf thoroughbred handicap by four and a half lengths from stable companion Hazelhatch.
Veteran UAE trainer Paddy Rudkin scored a pleasing win in the Al Hebeb handicap with Valdancer courtesy a brilliant riding effort from Michael Fenton.
The winner, after being one of the first to be rousted along by his rider, got to the front before he was challenged and appeared to be outpaced by Mythical Jinks, ridden by William Hollick.
But Fenton found a second wind in Valdancer who battled back under pressure to win by a short-head. "That win was long overdue," said Rudkin who was scoring his third success of the campaign. "He's a very nice, genuine sort of horse and fully deserved that win."
Durcan posts 10th win of the season
- Ted Durcan, four-time champion jockey in the UAE, took his tally to 10 wins for the season when he rode Ryan Giggs to win the Purebred Arabian handicap. Wins have been at a premium for the Irishman who has been placed 25 times from 68 rides.
- Machynleth, a horse named after an ancient town in England, broke a 9-race losing streak when he won his first race in the UAE yesterday. His previous win came in at Ripon in April 2002 for trainer Mick Channon.
- Trainer Adi Selvaratnam was kept waiting for his first winner of the season when Mythical Jinks was narrowly beaten for the second time in a week. He had awfully close last week when Mythical Jinks went down by a neck to Atlee. He lost by a shorthead yesterday.
1st race. Al Baraha Purebred Arabians 75-95 (1,400m):1. Ryan Giggs (trained by M Al Kurdi) T Durcan; 2. Jilko (M Al Muhairi) S Chin; 3. Wayward Faery (D Watson) R Mullen.
Distances: Sh, 3length.
Time: 1min 37.08secs.
2nd race. Tawi Saif Thoroughbreds 35-65 (1,200m):
1. Mahyynleth (M Al Muahiri) S Chin; 2. Alton (P Rudkin) G Hind; 3. Absolut Black (A Selvaratnam) F Da Silva.
Distances: 4.75length, 0.5.
Time: 1min 13.56secs.
3rd race. Al Hebab Thoroughbreds 50-80 (1,600m):
1. Valdancer (P Rudkin) M Fenton; 2. Mythical Jinks (A Selvaratnam) W Hollick; 3. Better Mix (M Al Muhairi) S Chin.
Distances: Sh, 4.25length.
Time: 1min 39.84secs.
4th race. Al Eyaf Thoroughbreds 60-90 (1,300m):
1. Prince of Denmark (M Al Kurdi) T Durcan; 2. Hazelhatch (M Al Kurdi) R Mullen; Maksad (E Charpy) W Supple.
Distances: 4.5length, 5.
Time: 1min 19.35secs.
5th race. Dom International Trophy Thoroughbreds 65-90 (1,800m):
1. Bosra's Valentine (R Bouresly) G Hind; 2. Afghan (M Al Kurdi) T Durcan; 3. Cotosol (D Watson) R Mullen.
Distances: 2.5length, 3.25.
Time: 1min 53.17secs.
6th race. Seih Ak Salam Thoroughbreds 40-65 (2,000m):
1. Classicist (D Watson) W Supple; 2. Rich Pickins (M Al Kurdi) S Chin; Indicant (D Watson) M Hussey.
Distances: 7length, 2.75.
Time: 2min 0.8secs.
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