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Dormello sprints to glory

Roicead beats top sprinters in the final race to win by more than six lengths

Dhruba Selvaratnam saddled the winners of both features of the final race-meeting at Jebel Ali Racecourse on Friday. James Doyle was on board Dormello when the six-year-old son of Dansili kicked away from the rest of the field to land the 1800m Shadwell Thoroughbreds Conditions, the official highlight of the afternoon.

Having been unsuccessful in three starts up the hill, Dormello sealed his first UAE victory since his arrival in the country last year. He was well beaten by Haatheq over a mile at the same court on UAE debut and finished 15 lengths behind the track specialist Treble Jig on reappearance, before finishing poor fourth to Haatheq over course and distance in his third attempt. But, he showed good signs of improvement when he was a respectable fourth to Jamr in a Group-3 event at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club last time out.

Roicead smashed a strong field of top sprinters in the final race to win by more than six lengths in the 1200m Shadwell Thoroughbreds Handicap, the final race on the card. The well-bred seven-year-old son of Giant’s Causeway broke nicely and raced from the centre of the track. He was always going well and made smooth progress to lead as the pack began to climb up the hill with two furlongs to cover. And at this stage, Doyle shook the reigns and Roicead stormed home unchallenged. Kilt Rock, ridden by Pat Dobbs, was six lengths and a half back in second and he mount of Thomas Brown, Fityaan was third.

It was a double delight for Pat Dobbs who teamed up with Musabah Al Muhairi to guide Canary Wharf home in the 1600m The Curragh racecourse-Ireland Thoroughbreds Handicap, the opening event of the afternoon. In the fifth race, a 1400m Higher College Of Technologies Thoroughbreds Maiden, Dobbs rode Bismark to a stunning four lengths win to complete a double for the Oasis-1 handler Musabah Al Muhairi. Ironically, Dobbs failed to strike for his boss Doug Watson while taking the two rides for Al Muhairi as second choice for the stables’ retained jockey Wayne Smith.

The second race, the 1950m Abu Dhabi University Thoroughbreds Handicap, was won by Richard Mullen aboard Toolain for trainer Satish Seemar in a tight finish with Jalaa under Paul Hanagan to prevail by just a NK on the line.

The partnership of Harmash-Veries did not walk empty-handed and the rising power landed the fourth race, the 1400m Shadwell farm Rated Conditions with Zurbriggen. Front runner and hot favourite Kanaf was relegated to second and Shaishee took third.