Brazilian Pinheiro wins with Jayide Al Boraq
first PA race in Meydan

Racing at Meydan on Thursday evening, November 19, was officially highlighted by the only Purebred Arabian contest on the card, the 1400m Group 2 Bani Yas sponsored by Gulf News, won by the improving and consistent Jayide Al Boraq.

Confidently ridden by Bernardo Pinheiro, in the predominantly yellow silks of Al Rahmani Racing, the 6-year-old entire was winning for the seventh time on just his ninth start and in by far the strongest contest he had tackled. One of his two defeats was actually over 1400m, but that was his sole turf outing, when second at Abu Dhabi in a handicap having landed his previous start, a handicap at Al Ain, over 1400m.

This was his third attempt at the trip and, as well as consistent, he has to be considered versatile as he is now victorious over 1000m, 1400m and 1600m, the distance over which he made a winning debut, at Al Ain, in March 2019. He also won at the same track on his reappearance, over 1000m, exactly three weeks ago, but that was in handicap company and, as alluded to, this was a big step up in class.

Success looked unlikely at halfway when RB Money To Burn, ridden by Fabrice Veron, was going clear at the front whereas Pinheiro was attempting to find racing room, appearing trapped on the rail in about sixth, albeit travelling well. Pulled wide entering the straight, Jayide Al Boraq made relentless progress and, with RB Money To Burn, weakening in the final 150m, was able to sweep past that rival about 50m out to score going away at the line.

It was a biggest UAE winner for all the connections and Pinheiro said: “I was pretty confident coming here this evening because he is a lazy horse who only ever really does enough, so I thought there was improvement there.”

The jockey added: “I was not able to race as prominently as I wanted, but he was always going strongly. The eventual second was a long way clear, but I knew, entering the straight, I would at least get second and in the final 200m I was always going to win. It is a great result, not only for myself, but for a smaller trainer and owners, so we will enjoy it and hope there is more to come. An extra 200m will not be a problem, but I doubt he will stay much further than 1600m.”

Trained by Eric Lemartinel for Sheikha Alyazia bint Sultan Al Nahyan, RB Money to Burn finished second.

Winner of half his eight races, AF Alwajel, homebred by Champion Owner Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda, was the choice of retained jockey, champion Tadhg O’Shea, from two runners set to be saddled for Al Nabooda by Ernst Oertel, finished third place.

Source and photo: Emirates Racing Authority