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Thakif, Ghaamer ride to Abu Dhabi glory

Abu Dhabi - Debutant Al Jazi lands 1600m title ahead of Aasal Al Reef

A great ride by Harry Bentley brought Thakif home in the 2200m HH The President Cup PA Group-1 ahead of Abu Al Abyad in an exciting finish at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club on Sunday.
The Dh3m prestigious event was won last year by Thakif in the same finish ahead of Abu Al Abyad, but after a stewards' inquiry, the winner was disqualified and the runner-up was crowned.
"He is a versatile horse that impresses on all tracks and distances. He was a winner at Meydan last time out and will travel to Doha, Qatar, to race in the Emir Cup PA Group-1 before returning home to prepare for the biggest challenge in the Dubai Kahayla Classic Group-1 on the Dubai World Cup night," Nacer Samiri who trains the winner said.  
"I would like to congratulate the owner Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Miniser of Presidential Affairs, who has been always supporting our team," he added.
Ghaamer, ridden by Paul Hangan, stormed home to win the Thoroughbreds version of the HH The President Cup 'Listed' in great style.  
"He is a front runner and will be hard to beat over seven furlongs," said the winning trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe who has saddled his sixth President Cup title. Al Raihe has won this race last year with the top sprinter Ertijaal. "I would like to thank Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minsiter of Finance. All my six titles were in the colours of Shaikh Hamdan and I'm very glad to win it for him again," he said.
The same opinion was echoed by winning jockey Paul Hanagan who added: "Once he gets in front he relaxes a bit, but he has done us pride."
However, Al Raihe admitted that there's no race for him in the Dubai World Cup night because he failed to stay the mile while he is not speedy enough to race in the 1200 metres sprint.  
"We will keep him racing during the rest of the Carnival and try to find a suitable race for him in Abu Dhabi," he concluded.
Early in the evening, Fernando Jara rode Love To Dance to glory in the 1200m Muroor Purebred Arabians Handicap, the opening event on the card.
Debutant Al Jazi did everything right under Gerald Avranche to land the 1600m PA Emirates Fillies Classic Prestige ahead of early leader Aasal Al Reef.
"She has started preparations late," said Salem Al Ketbi, racing manager of the stables of The President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
"We didn't find suitable maiden race for her and opted to send the filly to the Classic, although we understand that it was a tough test and she didn't put us down," he said. "I think the obvious option will be the classical races at the same venue," he confirmed.
Avranche added: "She has won very nicely. She started well and showed her stamina as the race progressed and when I have asked her the question in the concluding stages, Al Jazi showed that he had plenty remaining in the tank," he said.
The 1400m PA Handicap, Wathba Stud Farm Cup for Private Owners Oly was claimed by Dere'A Al Jazeera in the hands of the claiming apprentice jockey Hector Crouch for Lebanese trainer Saifaldin Deep.