3 minute read
Racing at Meydan on Sunday, a matinee meeting, was officially highlighted by a rated conditions stakes over 1600m on dirt in which Royal Mews and Tadhg O’Shea proved far too good, completing an early double on the card for Bhupat Seemar.
In a field of seven, O'Shea settled his mount, a 5yo gelded son of Siyouni racing in the silks of Deva Racing, in midfield and, perhaps significantly slightly wide out of any kickback. Once asked to win his race at the top of the straight, the outcome was soon beyond any doubt.
![ROYAL MEWS winning the Mina By Azizi](https://resource11.racingandsports.com.au/Photos/photogallery/large/2022/Horse-royal-mews-173560-750x500.jpg)
This was only his sixth career start and second victory, having won over 2000m on the Chelmsford all-weather when trained by John & Thady Gosden for Godolphin. This was just his second UAE appearance and dirt debut having finished fifth in a 1900m turf handicap on his local bow a fortnight ago,
Seemar had enjoyed a 1-2 in the preceding 1200m turf maiden, Lake Causeway, racing alone on the nearside rail under O'Shea, denied by Al Rashid Stables' local debutant Bosphorus in the centre, the mount of Dane O'Neill.
A 4yo Golden Horn colt, Bosphorus was getting off the mark at the sixth attempt on what was also his turf debut having run five times on all-weather surfaces in Britain for Godolphin and John Gosden, twice finishing second over 1900m.
![URSA MINOR winning the Aliyah By Azizi](https://resource11.racingandsports.com.au/Photos/photogallery/large/2022/Horse-ursa-minor-173561-750x500.jpg)
They were actually his two most recent starts, both and Wolverhampton, the latest in March last year.
Seemar said: "He has been slow to come to hand which is why you have not seen him and he has been off for almost a year. His coat is still not 100% so he should improve from that."
A 2000m turf handicap appeared competitive on paper but was actually won convincingly by Al Madhar, produced to lead entering the final 250m and never in danger thereafter for Musabbeh Al Mheiri and Tawfik A Saeid Ali.
Twice a winner in Britain for Richard Hannon and the late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the 5yo gelded son of Siyouni had recorded a first UAE success on his penultimate start, over this track and trip, before finishing fourth in a 1900m Meydan turf handicap.
![WOODDITTON (outer) winning the Riviera Beach Front By Azizi](https://resource11.racingandsports.com.au/Photos/photogallery/large/2022/Horse-woodditton-173562-750x500.jpg)
Fresu said: "He was a bit disappointing last time but he enjoyed being ridden like that and given time to get into the race. He has won twice this year but this is going to be a very nice horse next season."
The concluding 1400m turf handicap produced an absolutely thrilling finish with the first five home finishing within a length of one another, Al Salt , who had hit the front inside the final 275m, just holding on under Dane O'Neill for Shadwell and Erwan Charpy.
Runner-up on both his previous starts, over this 1400m and then the longer 1600m, here at Meydan on turf, it would be hard to begrudge the homebred 5yo Muhaarar gelding his third career victory, first locally and on turf having twice won on all-weather surfaces in Britain for William Haggas.
They were followed home by stablemate Taamol, also owned by Shadwell, Magical Land, Manahir and Bawaasil, another for Shadwell. The last named was adjudged three-parts of a length behind the winner.
A 1900m turf handicap proved a fairly straightforward assignment for Ursa Major who soon had the race in the bag after hitting the front entering the final 300m under Ray Dawson, riding for Ahmad Bin Harmash in the colours of the trainer's son, Hamdan Harmash.
Another winner on the card previously in the care of John Gosden for Godolphin, winning once in September 2019, this was just his fourth appearance for current connections, all this season, the best being his previous start when third over this same 1900m turf course and distance.
Dawson said: "He has been learning with more racing and he settled really nicely today. The fast gallop happened and the quick ground has really suited him also. Hopefully he is improving."
Dawson then had to settle for second in the following rated conditions stakes, over 2200m on dirt, he and Anizzah caught close home by Omani apprentice Saif Al Balushi aboard stable companion Woodditton as Bin Harmash provided the 1-2, this one owned by Abdullah Menahi.
A 7yo Dark Angel gelding, the winner was having just his ninth career start and was winning for the first time since his debut, when successful over 1900m on the Meydan dirt in October 2019.
The action kicked off with the only Purebred Arabian race on the card, a 2000m conditions contest, won fairly comfortably by RB Seqondtonone, partnered by Abdul Aziz Al Balushi for Byerley Racing and Helal Alalawi.
Initially settled in third behind what appeared a very moderate early gallop, the 6yo entire took up the running fully 1300m out and, once kicked clear leaving the home turn, never looked likely to be caught.
It was a second career success for the horse, adding this to the 1200m maiden he landed on his second and final start in the US in July 2019. In 13 previous outings and he had finished both second and third on four occasions.
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