Moonlight Dash wins Thoroughbred contest

Abu Dhabi - Ffrench notches a double while Lemartinel bags one-two

 Apprentice jockey Hector Crouch piloted Moonlight Dash to victory in Al Reem Island, the lone Thoroughbred contest at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club on Sunday night.
Saddled by Satish Seemar, the seven-year-old son of Monsun, brought all his experience into play to win by half length over the Musabah Al Muhairi-trained Almerzem, ridden by Fernando Jara.
Earlier, Royston Ffrench notched a double on the night. After guiding the Helal Alawi-trained Wazn to victory in Al Khubairah, in the second race of the six-race card, Ffrench rode Wazn's stablemate Huyam to a win in the Wathba Stud Farm Cup For Private Owners Only. Wazn won by one and quarter lengths over Raheeb Al Reef, while Huyam won the contest run over a mile, by half length over Af Rahia, trained by Ernst Oertel and ridden by apprentice jockey Manuel Fernandes.
Trainer Eric Lemartinel had a one-two with Estourah edging out stablemate Rb Rich Surprise to win Al Rawbah, the best of the Purebred action on the night.
The four-year-old, with Wayne Smith onboard, clinched the thrilling 2200 metres contest by half length over Rb Rich Surprise, the ride of Tadhg O'Shea.
Live Rich, trained by Saeed Hadher Al Mazrouei and ridden by comeback man Fernando Jara, finished a neck behind Rb Rich.
It was Estourah's second win in three starts and it also ended a one-year drought. He had won on his debut, under O'Shea, in a Maiden race in Abu Dhabi last November. After that, he had sixth and seventh place finishes in his previous two runs.
Wayne Smith then went on to finish second onboard Es Maydan, the charge of Saifaldin Deeb, in Al Zahia.
The Ahmed Al Mehairbi-trained Munaaf, under Christopher Hayes, won the 1400 metres contest, for his first victory in 11 starts. Munaaf won by a head over Es Maydan.
Tadhg O'Shea had begun the Capital's third race meeting with victory onboard Af Maqayes, saddled by Ali Rashid Al Raihe. The three-year-old Af Maqayes won by a neck over Sataar Al Reef, trained by Abdallah Al Hammadi and ridden by Richard Mullen.
Patrick Dobbs, who has been on a winning spree over the weekend at Meydan and Al Ain, couldn't get a winner here and finished third in the race, onboard Hakim.
Af Maqayes is unbeaten in two starts, having won on debut in Sharjah just a fortnight ago.
james@khaleejtimes.com