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Alsadeek leaves others in a daze

Trained by Doug Watson at the Red Stables for UAE owner Malih Lahej Al Basti, the five-year-old son of Fasliyev broke well to hit the front from the word go before sprinting home unchallenged to win by four lengths at the finish line.

“He’s a good horse and has been training very well. Last year, he won two of his appearances, but I don’t what happened later because I was not here during March,” said a confident jockey Patrick Dobbs later.

Champion trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe won the opening race of the afternoon, a nine-furlong Handicap contest, with Palm Court, ridden by regular partner Royston Ffrench. The five-year-old gelded son of Green Desert defied the heavy weight and cruised to an easy victory up the hill to prevail by more than two lengths ahead of runner-up Natural Law under Willie Supple.

Al Raihe earlier said he was worried about the extra weight and extended distance, but Palm Court did not face strong opposition as he cantered to victory. “He won easily,” Al Raihe said later. “I didn’t think he’s going to do. This is the first time that he has won over this distance and hopefully he will improve further,” the national trainer said.

A great ride by William Buick brought Kessraa from last to first in the second race, a 1600m handicap up the hill. Cho Cho Fever who was impressive on debut a couple of weeks ago was the clear cut favourite to win the race, but he disappointed to finish a poor fifth under Willie Supple. Minted, ridden by Roary Cleary, left the machine very quickly to lead the race followed by the mount of Royston Ffrench, Skycap.

William Supple put Cho Cho Fever right behind the leading group as Kessraa, under William Buick, was the last to take the home turn with almost half distance remaining to cover. But the order of running began to change and Kessraa began a smooth progress from the centre of the field to hit the front and held on courageously under pressure to prevail by a neck close home.

William Buick returned to the winner’s enclosure with a triumph in the fourth race, a 1400m handicap, which attracted a small field of seven runners. Top weight Otaared was the last to leave the stalls as Latin American jockey Jesus Rosales pushed Shampagne along to take them in a very fast trip. The Orpen-colt was always going well and looked like a winner at one stage, but Otaared changed course and began to close the gap in the concluding stages before he hit the front to emerge the easiest of winners.

hisham@khaleejtimes.com