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Mannjal Shines

Mannjal lived up to the expectations to win the 1200m Shadwell Thoroughbreds Handicap on the final day of the Jebel Ali season at the Jebel Ali racecourse on Friday.

Ridden by regular partner William Buick, the gelded son of Storm Cat did nothing wrong and travelled nicely to emerge the easiest of winners ahead of fast finishing Escape Route.

William Buick completed a quick double and a great ride by the young jockey brought Emmrooz home in the opening race, a 1600m Derrinstown Stud Conditions, one of the two highlights of the afternoon.

The five-year-old gelded son of Red Ransom raced keenly in the centre of the track and picked up impressively when asked the question in the concluding stages of the trip.

Emmrooz raced twice at the Meydan All-Weather track where he finished poor seventh and 13^th to Sirocco Breeze and Lucky Find respectively.

But, he came with a decent form from Europe. Early in 2009, he spent a nice winter at Nad Al Sheba when finishing close second to Bankable over 1777 metres turf contest.

Planetary Motion came from nowhere to land the Roma Capannelle Racecourse-sponsored second race on the card. The Gone West horse jumped very quickly from the stalls and was always going well under Carlos Sandoval before he did all the work up the hill.

Champion trainer Doug Watson saddled his first win of the afternoon in the fourth race to close the gap with front runner Ali Rashid Al Raihe in the chase for the title.Bounty Quest, ridden by Patrick Dobbs, came with a late run to pip the mount of Wayne Smith Firestreak by just a nose in the final stride of the Rotary Club TB handicap.

hisham@khaleejtimes.com