Jockey Jim Crowley doubles Al Wathba's delight in Abu Dhabi

Ex-British champion jockey wins both Emirates Classics on Sunday

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. 16 FEBRUARY 2020. Emirates Colts classic, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club. Winner of fourth race Jawaal (AE) 4 yrs old raced by jockey Jim Crowley and trained by Irfan Ellahi. (Photo: Antonie Robertson/The National) Journalist: None. Section: National.
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Results

5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m; Winner: Faiza, Sandro Paiva (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer).

5.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,400m; Winner: Greeley, Connor Beasley, Helal Al Alawi.

6pm: Emirates Fillies Classic Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 1,600m; Winner: Marzaga, Jim Crowley, Ana Mendez.

6.30pm: Emirates Colts Classic Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 1,600m; Winner: Jawaal, Jim Crowley, Majed Al Jahouri.

7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m; Winner: AF Ashras, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.

7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m; Winner: Somoud, Richard Mullen, Ahmed Al Mehairbi.

Jim Crowley celebrated a “classic” double riding for the first time in the silks of the Al Wathba Racing of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club on Sunday.

The former British champion jockey won both the Emirates Classics for locally-bred fillies and colts for two different trainers of the same stable.

Crowley’s first winner was on board the Ana Mendez-trained Margaza in the fillies’ race and completed the double on Majed Al Jahouri’s Jawaal half an hour later.

Al Jahouri was also celebrating his first winner since returning from a three-year ban imposed by the Emirates Racing Authority (ERA) for using banned substances on three of his horses.

“It was nice to be back with a “classic” winner,” the Emirati said after Crowley provided him with his first winner since he returned from the ban in January.

“We had a good system in place for the team to continue with the work even when I was out of racing for three years.

“We have good horses for Sheikh Mansour and thanks to him for supporting me in every sphere of my life during the difficult times. I’m one of his soldiers and now I’m back and will do my best for him.”

Crowley had Jawaal in the middle of the pack before making smooth progress as they approached the final bend. He then led from 200m to win by two lengths from Musheer Al Wathba, a horse from another Sheikh Mansour owned Yas Racing.

Al Jahouri is contemplating whether to run Jawaal in the Arabian Triple Crown Round-3 or the UAE Arabian Derby, both races in Abu Dhabi on March 14.

“Jawaal is locally bred and we’ll see which race is easier for him, against overseas Arabians or at the same local level,” he said.

“The final say will be from the owners. We still have time to decide which race he runs next.”

Crowley was on top of his game on the two Wathba Racing runners.

“It was two nice prizes to pick up,” he said. “It is the first time I was riding in this colours and a nice way to start.

“They were both pretty nice horses to sit on. I had a really good trip round in the race on Jawaal. When I pulled him up he really quickened up well like a good horse.”

Helal Al Alawi’s Greeley won the only prize that was on offer for the thoroughbreds in the six-race card.

“He arrived in the UAE three months ago, had his first run at Jebel Ali nine days ago and winning his second start,” the Emirati said of the four-year-old Sir Prancealot gelding.

Connor Beasley, Greeley’s rider, said the horse had arrived with good form back in England and he put up a big run returning to grass in his second local start.

“There was a nice good gallop in the race which suited him,” he said. “He came on the grass for the first time here and put up a big run.”

Results

5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m; Winner: Faiza, Sandro Paiva (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer).

5.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,400m; Winner: Greeley, Connor Beasley, Helal Al Alawi.

6pm: Emirates Fillies Classic Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 1,600m; Winner: Marzaga, Jim Crowley, Ana Mendez.

6.30pm: Emirates Colts Classic Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 1,600m; Winner: Jawaal, Jim Crowley, Majed Al Jahouri.

7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m; Winner: AF Ashras, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.

7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m; Winner: Somoud, Richard Mullen, Ahmed Al Mehairbi.