English Oak Stands Tall for Second Meydan Win

English Oak was an impressive winner at the Dubai Racing Carnival a month ago and he made it two in a row, taking the featured Longines Spirit Pilot Flyback Handicap at Meydan Racecourse.

Ridden by Danny Tudhope for trainer Hamad Al Jehani, the six-year-old defied both top weight and a serious assault on his lead in the closing stages. Godolphin stablemates Hallasan and Cavallo Bay just failed to catch him by a head and a short head.

“I was drawn two and so you have to be patient when you’re on the rail like that and wait for the splits to come,” said Tudhope, deputising for retained rider James Doyle, who was in Qatar. “I thought maybe I was a bit too handy but I didn’t want to get stuck behind.

“He was dropping in trip tonight so it maybe took him a few strides to get it together.”

Tudhope celebrated a double, initiated when Desert Horizon broke his maiden at the eighth attempt in a rather attritional Longines Master Collection Handicap, race two, over 1900metres on dirt.

The six-year-old came with a sustained run inside the final 200metres, beating Hidden Secret by a length and a half.

“I thought Sam’s [Hitchcott, on Hidden Secret] horse was the one to beat and he made a lot of use of his horse early, so I was happy to take a lead,” said Tudhope.

“He’s always finished his races well, this lad, and he appreciated this step up in trip. He’s a lazy horse anyway, he doesn’t do anything quick, but I’m glad he’s finally broken his maiden.”  

Night to Remember for Busaidi

Apprentice Hamed Al Busaidi had never ridden a Thoroughbred winner at Meydan before tonight but now has two.

Ruling Dynasty’s previous Meydan win came almost exactly two years ago when he was trained by Charlie Appleby but he made it two at the track in the Longines Primaluna Handicap, over 1600metres on turf.

Owned and trained by Ismail Mohammed, the seven-year-old was taken the brave man’s route by Busaidi, who waited for a gap between horses, going for home and just keeping enough back to hold off UK raider City Of Delight by a neck.

“To be honest I galloped this horse last week and I told the trainer ‘trust me I will win,’” he said. “He showed me a good class then and I knew he would run better down in this grade.

“In the first furlong I had a bump from outside but I stayed in eighth and waited for the gap. When I got the gap, he went!”

Al Busaidi and Mohammed teamed up again later when Condor Pasa took the Longines Conquest Chronograph Handicap, race seven, over 1200metres on turf. The six-year-old, whose previous win came two years ago when trained by Fawzi Nass, outbattled the filly Arigatou Gozaimasu for a two and a quarter length success.

Al Busaidi was elated, saying: “I was waiting for Bernardo [Pinheiro, on Arigatou Gozaimasu] to come back to me but his horse is a strong fighter and he sent me to the outside, but I solved it!”

“It’s an incredible feeling for me – I’m only the second Omani jockey to ride a double at Meydan.”

Valdivia has always loved Meydan and Ahmad bin Harmash’s gelding collected a third course success in the Longines Master Collection Moon Phase Chronograph, race six, over 2000metres on dirt.

Ridden by Saif Al Balushi, he was held up in the early stages but ran on well at the business end for a four and a quarter-length win over Estmrar.

Another who enjoys this track is Diamond Dealer and the Bhupat Seemar trainee was given a confident ride by Tadhg O’Shea in the Longines Spirit Pilot Handicap, over 1600metres on dirt.

Starting from post 11, he was wide for much of the race but O’Shea committed him off the home turn and he stormed to victory, easily dispatching the challenge of Force And Valour by three lengths.

“He’s a nice horse but he needed to grow up,” said O’Shea. “When he came up for sale I rang His Highness [owner Athbah Racing] and said he needs to be gelded and concentrate on the job. He’s now won three races and he’s on the up.”

O’Shea and Seemar collected their own double when Muzaahim flew home from the back of the field in the closing Longines Spirit Zulu Time 1925 Handicap, over 1200metres on dirt. 

It was a second career win from just six starts for the four-year-old, who was good value for a tw0-length success over Military Artist. 

There was a superb finish to the opening Longines Conquest Purebred Arabian Handicap when Kayaan SB just held off AH Tahan in a dash to the line.

The winner, trained by Ibrahim Al Hadhrami, was a 50^th winner in the UAE for jockey Abdul Aziz Al Balushi.

Meydan resumes next Friday, 20 February, when the G2 Balanchine, G3 UAE Oaks and G3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy are the highlights.