The new racing season at Sharjah Longines Racecourse kicked off on Saturday with a series of six races dedicated to Purebred Arabians. The headline Sharjah Sports Council Race saw Yas Racing’s Sha’an achieve a strong victory after a late charge. Ridden by Samuel Legrix, the Mahabb-sired colt battled his stablemate Saafeer through much of the contest before pulling away in the final strides to win by nearly a length.
The event was attended by Sheikh Abdullah Bin Majid Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club, alongside Director Sultan Mohammed Khalifa Al Yahyaee, various dignitaries, and sponsor representatives. The season is set to include major highlights such as the HH The Ruler of Sharjah Cup, the GCC Cup, and the HH Sharjah Crown Prince Cup.
Action began with the Sharjah Municipality race, which was dominated by Abu Dhabi Racing’s Asim Baynounah. The RB Burn colt, trained by Saif Al Mehairi and steered by jockey Sandro Paiva, secured a decisive win, finishing 6.48 lengths ahead of the rest of the field in the 1,200-metre sprint.
A tense battle unfolded during the Sharjah Public Works Department race, where Bashasha Al Reef triumphed over Waseem Baynounah. Trained by Jaber Bitar and partnered with Qais Al Busaidi, Bashasha Al Reef showed immense stamina in a 16-horse field. The two contenders stayed close throughout the race until the final furlong, where Bashasha Al Reef accelerated to take the victory.
In the Maliha Municipality race, Rabdan Al Buhais made a successful debut. Ridden by Hamed Al Busaidi and trained by Qaiss Aboud, the grey colt finished in 1:05.29, narrowly defeating Muntaha AW, who crossed the line at 1:05.30 with jockey Jules Mobian.
The fourth race, sponsored by the Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority, went to Al Ain Stud’s AS Mared Al-Bahr, guided by jockey Bernardo Pinheiro.
Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda’s AF AlHazem concluded the day by winning the final 2,000-metre race. Trained by Ernst Oertel and ridden by Marcelino Rodrigues, the horse took an early lead and maintained a steady tempo, showcasing composure and strength to secure the win.
Reflecting on the successful opener, Sultan Mohammed Khalifa Al Yahyaee expressed his delight at the competitive nature of the meeting. He noted that the performance of the owners, trainers, and jockeys highlighted the growing strength of UAE horse racing and the spirit of Purebred Arabian competitions.
Al Yahyaee also emphasized the value of the support provided by sponsors and partners, stating that their involvement is essential to the success of these events. The racing club looks forward to maintaining this momentum throughout the rest of the season.
