Spirit of Battle triumphs

Spirit of Battle lived up to his name after the Elusive Quality colt held on very strongly under Jesus Rosales to win the 1400m Shadwell-sponsored Thoroughbreds Handicap, the highlight of the final meeting of the season at Jebel Ali Racecourse on Friday afternoon. “He’s an improving performer,” said the Emaar Stables-based trainer Abdulla bin Huzaim. “The seven furlongs is his best trip and having finished close fourth to Rutland Boy at Meydan Racecourse last time out, the decision was to send him to the hilly track to end his season on a winning note,” he added. Forjatt, ridden by James Doyle, came up with a late run to run Spirit of Battle down, but the colt responded keenly to prevail by just a short-head on the line. The mount of Wayne Smith Youm Mutamiez was two lengths back in third place. However, the jockeys paid tribute to the retiring jockey Richard Hills during the day. Frankie Dettori was also present besides most of the retained jockey in the local season. The Englishman decided to bid adieu by the end of the 2012 Dubai World Cup night at Meydan Racecourse on March 31. “I have been riding here for the last 20 years and I hope I have entertained everyone during many of my wins,” Hills said as he waved goodbye to the faithful fans. Meanwhile, Royston Ffrench partnered the Ali Rashid Al Raihe-trained Glen Nevis to victory in the 1950m Thoroughbreds Handicap sponsored by Commercial Bank of Dubai. Ibn Al Nafis was second and behind them came Mashaaref. Al Raihe, who is recovering at home in Ajman, completed a double in the final race when Tadhg O’Shea rode Mujaazef to win in the 1200m Al Shafar Group Thoroughbreds Handicap, the final race on the card. The UAE champion trainer, who has successfully defended his title ahead of runner up Doug Watson, has also claimed the Jebel Ali trainers’ championship with 13 winners. Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum was crowned champion of the Jebel Ali owners’ competition and Wayne Smith won the jockeys’ title. Wayne Smith landed the 1400m Al Shafar Investment Thoroughbreds Handicap with Alnashmy who made two out of two for trainer Musabah Al Muhairi and owner Saeed Nasser Al Romaithi. Top Brazilian jockey Silvestre De Souza completed a double for Al Muhairi in the 1600m Dubai Duty Free Thoroughbreds Handicap — fourth race of the afternoon — with Straight Talk. Jutland earned trainer Doug Watson his first winner of the afternoon after the Halling gelding claimed the 1850m Emirates Airline Thoroughbreds Handicap, the fifth race of the grand finale to the total.