Al Nabooda, Oertel & O’Shea celebrate Sharjah doubles highlighted by feature race victory before Pinheiro completes a brace of his own

AF Maqam ridden by Tadhg O'Shea

WATCH THE RACE

Sun, 13/03/2022 - Sunday’s final meeting of the Sharjah Longines Racecourse season was highlighted by the track’s most valuable race of the season, the AED250,000 HH The Ruler of Sharjah Cup, a Prestige contest over 1700m and AF Maqam (AF Alsalaam (AE) - RS Suhaylah (AE) by Burning Sand (US)) scored a gutsy victory under Tadhg O’Shea.

Having just his fifth career start, in a contest restricted to 4yos and 5yos born in the UAE, the Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda homebred trained by Ernst Oertel, hit the front in the final 200m but had to dig deep to deny challenges from Yas Xmnsor and Hakaam.

Al Nabboda’s 4yo colt was doubling his career tally and adding this success to that he registered in a 1200m Jebel Ali maiden on just his second start, in November.

AF Yenomes ridden by Tadhg O'Shea

WATCH THE RACE

In the colours of his main employer, Al Nabooda, O’Shea had earlier delivered AF Yenomes (AF Al Buraq (AE) x Fleur Du Cayrou (FR) by Dormane (FR)) to lead right on the line in a 1200m handicap for Oertel.

Previously a maiden, the 5yo homebred entire was having just his seventh career start and had managed a second, a third and two fourth place outings in a career that only started at the beginning of this season, in the middle of November.

Najem Al Rwasi ridden by Bernardo Pinheiro

WATCH THE RACE

Only seven went to post for a second 1200m handicap, this one restricted to horses foaled locally, in which Bernardo Pinheiro and Najem Al Rwasi (Morshed x Doumba Du Cayrou by Dormane) were probably never headed for Ahmed Aamer Al Shemeili in the silks of Ahmed Ebrahim bin Aamer Al Shemeili.

Now an 8yo, the entire horse was winning for the third time, all at Sharjah over this 1200m, but tasting success for the first time since December 2020.

Sufyan ridden by Bernardo Pinheiro

WATCH THE RACE

The finale, the Sharjah Marathon, a 2700m handicap, witnessed a seemingly inspired effort from Pinheiro aboard Sufyan (Munjiz x Shumoos by Djouras Tu) for Yas Racing and Majed Al Jahoori. Drawn widest of all in stall 13, the jockey raced alone on the nearside rail for about 500m before crossing across to join the others.

It was clear from fully 800m out that, barring a stamina collapse, the pair was not going to be caught.

Source: Emirates Racing Authority