Mailshot delivers, Watson saddles a treble at Meydan

Trained for His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Mailshot under jockey Mickael Barzalona came in a comfortable half-length distance ahead of Musawaat under Adrie De Vries.

Barzalona and bin Ghadayer may have taken away the feature race, but the meeting belonged to trainer Doug Watson who recorded a trio of winners across the eight race card.

The DP World UAE Region Handicap was run over 1600 metres on the turf and saw a maximum field of 14 runners go to post. The eventual winner was settled well off the pace as Sam Hitchcott set the early marks on Pillar of Society, but Mailshot cruised into contention at the top of the lane, eventually reaching the front with 200 metres to go. From there, it was a canter to the line in front of the rallying Musawaat, with Pupil a further length back in third.

“He did not seem to handle the dirt on his first start for us, but has now produced four solid runs on turf,” Barzalona said. “He stays further, so I was happy they went a strong gallop, which has really helped me. He took me into the race going very strongly. He is a nice horse and, as only a four-year-old, hopefully still improving and going to be a very nice horse next season.”

Watson’s triple success started by dominating the Mina Rashid, a 2000 metre dirt handicap, as he saddled Dehbashi to beat stable companion Grand Argentier who tried to make all under Tadhg O’Shea.

Jockey Pat Dobbs was aboard the winner, who stalked until commencing a rally to catch his yard-mate in mid-stretch, winning by a length and a half, with Philsopher just under three lengths back in third.

The trainer went on to complete a double in the Mina Hamriya, a 1600 metre dirt handicap, after Moosir posted his third win of the season and second over course and distance.

Ridden by Jim Crowley riding for his main employer, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the eight-year-old was held up just behind the early speed before taking the lead halfway up the straight. From there it was a case of wrapping victory by a length and a quarter, not before fighting off the challenge of the Satish Seemar-trained duo of Mazeed and Simple Attack in second and third respectively.

Watson had to wait until the final race of the meeting, the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Cruise Terminal handicap, to wrap up the treble, and it was a case of leaving the best to last as Sheeba won in spectacular fashion.

Run over 2000 metres on dirt, Sheeba was always prominent with Dobbs back in the saddle and proved much the best of the other 15 runners in the final 300 metres, widening impressively to win by a massive 12 and a half lengths

There was only one filly among the ten runners who went to post in the opening National Industries Park, a 1600 metre dirt maiden, and it was Heart Power who ran out the decisive winner over the boys.

Sent straight to the front by Adrie de Vries and sporting the colours of Dr Ali Ridha for trainer Ismail Mohammed, Heart Power always looked to be in control. Once committed for home, she kicked on nicely going onto win by just under three lengths over Rua Augusta in second and Dirilis Ertugrul in third.

The Jebel Ali Port Handicap seemed to be run at a furious early gallop but Call to War was able to chase that early speed, take up the running just after halfway and keep on going to the line.

Run over 1200 metres on dirt handicap, Call to War, trained by Gopi Selvaratnam and owned by Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, was opening his local account at the seventh attempt under jockey Brett Doyle. The pair came in three-quarters of a length in front of Salvadori in second and Mutahaddith in third.

There was a sharp victory by Jaber Ramadhan-trained Big Time in the Jebel Ali Free Zone Handicap over the same distance. With Antonio Fresu at the helm for owner Aqeel Hassan AbdulRahim, Big Time was quickly moved toward the outside rail and never looked to be headed in the final 400 metres, winning by a length with plenty to spare from Ejbaar in second and Greeb in third.

The Satish Seemar-trained Dawwass was the smooth winner of the Mina Rashid Marina, a turf maiden over 1800 metres

The four year old was given a polished ride by Richard Mullen having been settled in the middle of the 14 runners, before easing into contention on the home turn and hitting the front about 650 metres from the line.

From there, the pair never really looked in danger and they came in untroubled by two and a quarter lengths from Cape Of Eagles in second and Muqaatil in third.

The next racing at Meydan is next Saturday, 10 March, with the much-anticipated Dubai World Cup Carnival Super Saturday extravaganza.