OShea lights up the day with a late double

Saturday, Oct 29, 2016

Sharjah: Tadhg O’Shea, the UAE champion jockey, was at his sharpest form to land the 2000m handicap aboard purebred Arabian Men Alemarat in the concluding race at the Sharjah Racecourse on Saturday.

Four of the eight runners held every chance as they entered the final 200m of the race, but it was O’Shea aboard the Eric Lemartinel-trained Men Alemarat who prevailed in a thrilling closing stages battle with Ajjaj.

O’Shea, who had drawn a blank at Jebel Ali Racecourse the previous day, asked for maximum effort from Men Alemarat who responded gamely to lead close home, doubling his career win tally in the process. “He ran some good races in defeat last season when he took on some top performers,” said O’Shea.

It was a welcome ‘double’ for O’Shea, who had another visit to the winner’s enclosure 30 minutes earlier after the hard-fought victory of MH Areeb in the 1700m handicap. Trained by Elise Jeanne, it was a sixth career victory for MH Areeb and all bar one have come over this course and distance.

“It is great to get off the mark for the season,” said O’Shea. “I was actually pretty confident as I won on this horse at Al Ain last season and thought he was the best horse in the race.

“He is tough so I knew he would battle for me and hopefully plenty more winners will follow.”

The only thoroughbred contest on the card was a 1700m maiden and champion trainer Doug Watson saddled the first three home.

Sam Hitchcott was keen to get to the front on Mathematics and was able to secure the rail position, so often favoured at Sharjah. Without seemingly exerting too much effort, the pair were able to enjoy a relatively easy lead before winding up the pace entering the home turn.

They soon had most of their nine rivals in trouble with only stable companion, Paranormal emerging from the pack as a danger.

He briefly threatened under apprentice Adam McLean but Hitchcott’s mount responded well to deny that pair with Watson’s third runner, More To Come, running on from the rear to snatch third. “It is a good result for the whole team,” said Watson. “We thought we had decent chances coming into the race and Mathematics had shown some decent form last season.”

Out of luck with 37 runners in his first campaign with a training license last season, Yousif Bin Ghilan wasted no time opening his account this time and saddled Ya Hala to win the opening 1200m maiden.

Well away, the four-year-old filly, having her fourth career start, was soon blazing a trail under Jose Santiago and they were never headed.

Clear of the rest with 400m left to travel, the filly started to tire in the final 200m but was always going to hold on with Laheeb Al Reef staying on for second.

Staff Report