Doubles for Seemar and Bin Ghadayer, feature for Watson on Meydan’s opening night

By Duane Fonseca

Dubai: Meydan opened its doors to racing for the first time this season Thursday night with UAE Champion Trainer Satish Seemar, Salem bin Ghadayer and Doug Watson all getting their chance to bask in glory under floodlights.

Doug Watson trained Rio Angie put on a splendid performance under Sam Hitchcott to win the Thursday night feature at Meydan in commanding fashion

And while Seemar opened his account for the season with a double courtesy of first choice rider Richard Mullen, Watson nicked the feature with stable star Rio Angie, who ran home virtually unchallenged in the 1400m conditions event.

Seemar and Mullen were the first to strike on the six race card with Lady Snazz running on strongly to win the 1900m maiden. Mullen got the 4yo Curlin filly in a nice position on the heels of Jaber Ramadhan’s Litecoin, who set the pace under Tadhg O’Shea.

Mullen popped the question at the far turn and with 600m out Lady Snazz took over from Litecoin powering all the way home to win by three and a quarter lengths. Litecoin was second with Doug Watson’s Falcon Claws a further four behind with Dane O’Neill up.

Ali Rashid Al Rayhi and Connor Beasley were the successful partnership in the 1200m maiden that followed with Zhou Storm only just holding on to win by a short head from Salem bin Ghadayer’s Rare Ninja with Royston Ffrench up. In third place, a further length and a quarter in arrears, was Al Rayhi’s Grand Dubai the ride of Sandro Paiva.

Bin Ghadayer and Ffrench’s disappointment was short-lived though with the pair landing the 1200m handicap that followed with Rich And Famous.

The 6yo Bernardini gelding built on his second place finish at Jebel Ali last weekend when virtually making all at Meydan to win by a length and quarter from Watson’s Royal Sands with Adrie de Vries aboard. Next in was another Watson charge in Dangerous Thought, who placed a further length and three fourths back in the hands of Sam Hitchcott. Bin Ghadayer claimed his second win with Firnas, who won the last race of the night, a handicap over 2000m under Xavier Ziani.

Watson’s 3yo Honor Code filly, Rio Angie, was simply peerless in the feature, jumping to the lead under Sam Hitchcott and starting to pull clear at the 700m marker from where she built up a massive lead with Seemar’s Commanding taking second by a distance under O’Shea. In third place, a further length and a half behind, was Al Rayhi’s Al Modayar with Beasley up.

Seemar and Mullen completed their doubles in the penultimate race of the night a 1400m handicap with Kinver Edge who comfortably beat Watson’s race favourite Golden Goal by two and a quarter lengths at the finish. A further three and three fourths behind was Al Rayhi’s Paiva ridden Tafaakhor.