Rod Simpson, based at Al Asayl near the capital, saddled two of the runners and continued his remarkable run of form with Ted Durcan on Jazeerat Alsadyaat beating stable companion Elmalak Elwaheed under Richard Mullen.
Ridden by William Buick, he prevailed in an exciting finish from long time challenger Af Alghabra and Simpson was in high spirits: “Ted decided the ground was better wide and I was quite happy for him to follow his instincts; it was a great ride from the front and he is a nice horse.
“William is a good young jockey but you do have to feel sorry for Daragh (O’Donohoe) who is missing a few winners due to an unfortunate injury. It has been a great first season at Al Asayl and we could not be more pleased.”
David Badel was in the saddle on Saifaldin Deeb’s Rachidia, who won a 1600m handicap, before Willie Supple on Gill Duffield’s Af Qadeerah was awarded a 1600m fillies and mares’ maiden at the expense of Intissar W’Rsan who was first past the post – denying Buick a treble as he later won the sole Thoroughbred race.
That was a 1400m maiden and he steered Musabah Al Muhairi’s Ibn Battuta to victory before explaining: “My first season in the UAE has gone well so far and is proving a great experience.”
Another jockey enjoying a prolific first season in the UAE is Fernando Jara and he won the 1400m conditions race on Samir Hawaa’s Barakat and Matthew Henry and Fakhruddin Nizamuddin combined to win the concluding 1400m handicap.
