Nieshan wins the Dh1m HH The President of the UAE Cup

Nieshan, trained by Eric Lemartinel and ridden by Gerald Avranche, won the Dh1m HH The President of the UAE Cup at Abu Dhabi Sunday evening, denying Seraphin Du Paon, so often his nemesis, a second consecutive win in the 2200m feature. Third in this race last year behind Seraphin Du Paon, the 6yo then won the Group 1 Maktoum Challenge III at Meydan before chasing home his old rival in the Kahayla Classic on Dubai World Cup night but it was hit turn to emerge victorious this time. The old adversaries had the race between them after the last 300m with Nieshan battling gamely to land the spoils to the delight of Avranche, who said: “He is a very good horse who won a big race at Meydan last year and was placed in this one as well as on World Cup night. His first runs this year over 1600m did not suit him and he won a small race last time which has helped his confidence. “He battled well tonight and it is great to win this major UAE prize.” Laa Rayb opened his UAE account at the eight attempt in the only Thoroughbred race, a 1600m handicap and, in doing so, won for the first time since winning at Glorious Goodwood in July 2009. The 8yo had demonstrated on regular occasions that he retained plenty of ability and found himself competing here off a handicap mark of 100, five pounds below his last winning mark and he took full advantage for trainer Dhruba Selvaratnam under William Buick. Arguably unlucky at Meydan on his previous outing, he was held up off the pace by Buick before closing as the runners turned for home at which stage UAE debutant Mont Agel was sent for home by Andrea Atzeni. Clasp loomed as a big danger, along with Buick’s mount who gained the initiative well within the final 200m to the delight of Selvaratnam, who said: “It has taken us a while to get his head in front and it is great to see him win. He has plenty of ability and has run some good races in defeat but things have never really fallen his way until this evening.” The main support race was the 1000m Group 3 Al Ruwais and Harry Bentley’s mount Thakif was the impressive winner to take his local tally to two wins from three starts for trainer Majed Al Jahouri. Bentley said: “He really impressed me when he won his maiden but that was over 1600m and he has really coped well with this drop in trip.” Jockey Mirco Demuro, who rode Seraphin Du Paon, rode the opening two winners with Ernst Oertel, trainer of the big race runner-up, saddling Manisha to make a winning debut in the opening 1400m maiden. Demuro then won the 1600m handicap on Meshwar for owner/trainer Hassan Saleh Al Hammadi, and Demuro said: “That is a great start on such a big night.” Richard Hills and Jaber Bittar combined to win the 1600m Abu Dhabi Equestrian Gold Cup with Najem Al Khalij who was winning for the third time this season, as was Versac PY who won the 2200m handicap. Trained by Erwan Charpy, he was ridden by Tadhg O’Shea.