ES Ajeeb provided Sudanese trainer Ibrahim Aseel his biggest career prize, winning the Group 2 Baniyas for Purebred Arabians at Meydan Racecourse on Thursday.
Much effort had gone into preparing the Burning Sand colt, but credit should go to Sam Hitchcott, who rode an excellent race as he had to come out from the widest draw in the 14-runner field during the 1,400-metre trip.
Hitchcott was quickly out of the gate and raced three to four lengths in front of the chasing pack before getting ES Ajeeb just across the line, winning by a nose from the fast-finishing Mawahib under Fabrice Veron.
“Unfortunately, being drawn 14 he had to cover a lot more ground than anybody else," the winning jockey said. "If not he could have won by a slightly bigger margin."
Hitchcotthas ridden ES Ajeeb in six of his seven career starts, recording four victories.
“He’s a six-furlong horse,” he added. “He’s still a big baby and there’s plenty to improve.
"Like I said from Day 1, he’s probably the best Arabian horse I have sat on, with natural speed and abilities.”
Cosmo Charlie bounced back from his disappointing reappearance at the Jebel Ali racetrack more than a month ago to clinch the feature prize for the thoroughbreds.
Jumping out of Gate 1, Pat Dobbs raced along the inside rails to lead all the way and win comfortably from stable companion – the George Buckell-ridden Etijaah, who pipped Connor Beasley on Rodaini for second in the fifth race.
“Inside draw means a lot,” Cosmo Charlie’s trainer Doug Watson said. “He didn’t have to use gas early. He is a nice horse on his day and had his own way tonight.
“Hopefully he’ll get better and perhaps go to the mile races in the [Dubai World Cup] Carnival [in January]. That would be our aim again like last year.”
______________
Read more:
[ Eric Lemartinel double-handed in bid to defend Baniyas prize at Meydan Racecourse ]
Amith Passela: Joori's win sets up Eric Lemartinel hat-trick at Al Ain Racecourse
Amith Passela: Al Ain kicks off busy weekend for UAE horse racing on Thursday
Godolphin and Appleby have Melbourne Cup defence in mind for Cross Counter
______________
The trainer-jockey partnership of Satish Seemar and Richard Mullen won a double on the night with Lavaspin and Bochart.
Lavaspin was the impressive winner of the third race, his second in two starts for the season. Mullen eased him at the finish to win by five lengths from Alraased and Ejaaby, a short head separating second from third.
“He’s improved a lot and tonight’s win was his most impressive to date,” Seemar said. “He’s matured a little bit late in his life, which a lot of horses do. All they want for us as trainers and owners is a little patience.
"This horse has got it and is producing the results.”
Seemar, who wants to take it step-by-step with his horses, will bide his time by giving Lavaspinthe horse two to three weeks to recover before deciding where he goes next.
“He can probably run again in December," Seemar said, "and after that we’ll consider going in to the Carnival."
