Rmmas wins The President Cup Prep

Having been forced to postpone a meeting after the bad weather of last week, racing returned to Abu Dhabi on Sunday, the first meeting of 2020 in the capital, a six-race card featuring the HH The President Cup Prep, won in thrilling fashion by Tadhg O’Shea aboard Rmmas.

Riding for Jean de Roualle and Sheikha Fatima Bint Mansour Al Nahyan, daughter of Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, O’Shea was happy to take his time in the middle of the pack before edging closer as the runners prepared to leave the back straight, seemingly tracking Richie Mullen aboard Harrab.

Meanwhile, in this prep over the same 2200m as the Group 1 feature itself, up front Darius Du Paon and Adrie de Vries were bowling along happily in front and, when the Dutchman committed for home at the 400m pole, they had most of their 13 rivals in trouble.

The exceptions were Harrab and Rmmas with the former wearing down De Vries’ mount with less than 100m remaining only to be snared in the final 50m by O’Shea and the classy Rmmas. Winner of the 1200m Group 3 Al Ruwais and 1400m Group 2 Liwa Oasis, both here at Abu Dhabi under Mullen in 2018, this was a first victory since the latter, in April of that year, for the 7-year-old entire who has been plying his trade almost exclusively in Group 1 company since.

The meeting kicked off with a 1600m maiden with at least half a dozen of the 15 runners vying for the lead on the home turn shortly after which debutante Omania swept past early pacesetter AF Haddaf and shot clear under Omani apprentice Saif Al Balushi. They opened up a decisive advantage and were always holding the late challenge of Will Power who stayed on strongly under Pat Cosgrave.

A 4-year-old filly, homebred by Sheikh Nasser Mohd Nasser Al Hashar, she was an eighth winner of the season for trainer Ibrahim Al Hadhrami and a first of the current campaign for the young jockey.

Ana Mendez is enjoying a fruitful maiden season as a trainer and combined with Richard Mullen and Brehaan who led close home to snatch the spoils in a 1600m conditions race for fillies and mares. Settled in midfield by Mullen, the mare made smooth progress as the runners left the back straight and were in the perfect position to throw down a decisive challenge in the final 50m to deny Faiza who had tried gallantly to make every post a winning one under Sandro Paiva.

It was an eighth winner this campaign for Mendez with turf debutante Brehaan, a 5-year-old mare having just her fourth career start, doubling her career tally having landed a 1700m Sharjah maiden, under Mullen on her second and penultimate outing.

From his Millennium 1 Stables satellite yard, Simon Crisford has his team in good form and landed the only Thoroughbred contest, a 1600m handicap, courtesy of Craving who stayed on strongly in the final 300m to stick his head in front in the final strides, denying Daffg and Tafaakhor, as well as the fast finishing duo Al Battar and Harbour Spirit, in a blanket finish.