Commissioner King wins Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup

SHARJAH: Bhupat Seemar’s Commissioner King, ridden by Tadhg O’Shea, stormed to victory in the Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup, presented by Longines Prima Luna, at the second meeting of the Sharjah Longines Racecourse on Sunday.

Owned by Faisal Mohammed Al Qahtani, Commissioner King finished comfortably ahead of the competition, with Salem Bin Ghadayer’s Made in Dubai and Street Mood rounding out the top three in third place.

Earlier, in the Longines Spirit Pilot Race dedicated to the UAE’s Purebred Arabians, Easy Lap delivered one of the most gripping finishes of the day, edging out a razor-close victory in a dramatic showdown to the wire.

Ridden by Saif Al Balushi, the 5-year-old daughter of Big Easy showed tremendous acceleration when it mattered most.

After settling into a stalking position early on, Easy Lap gradually found her rhythm before unleashing a powerful late surge inside the final furlong.

Her burst of speed proved decisive as she swept past Suhail Almazrouei’s Samaa Al Gharbia, who had momentarily looked poised to secure the win. But Balushi’s perfectly timed ride and Easy Lap’s determined finishing kick turned the tables in the dying strides, sealing a thrilling victory.

In the Longines Conquest, the spotlight belonged to the impressive Arghad, who delivered a commanding performance. The 4-year-old chestnut colt, a son of Mahabb, under Silvestre de Sousa, set the tone from the outset. Arghad showed maturity beyond his limited experience, travelling smoothly throughout the 1700-meter contest before asserting his dominance.

Yas Racing’s Arghad, trained by Eric Lemartinel, never looked back and finished more than four lengths ahead of stablemate Basil AW.

The Longines Master Collection proved to be a fiercely contested spectacle, keeping spectators on the edge of their seats right up to the final stride. Af Muataq, trained by Qaiss Aboud, displayed remarkable tenacity and speed, engaging in a thrilling duel with Nizaa Al Wathba that defined the race.

Both horses gave it their all, exchanging the lead multiple times as they thundered down the track, with their jockeys urging them on with every ounce of skill and determination.

In a breathtaking finish, Af Muataq managed to edge ahead by just a neck in the final furlong.

Qaiss Aboud completed a stunning double in back-to-back races, with Sidara winning the Longines Spirit Pilot Flyback Race.

Just moments after the thrilling victory of Af Muataq, Aboud was back in the winner’s circle as Sidara claimed victory in the next race for Purebred Arabians.

With Richard Mullen in the irons, the 7-year-old chestnut mare demonstrated exceptional courage and resilience throughout the 1700-meter contest. Despite the mounting pressure from the fast-charging Eric Legrix-trained Mouath, who threatened to overtake her in the final furlong, Sidara held her ground with unwavering determination.

As the finish line drew closer, Mullen urged the mare to find that extra burst of energy, and Sidara responded, digging deep into her reserves to stave off the challenge.

Leaving the disappointment behind, Legrix finally ended the day on a high note in the final race of the six-race card, the Longines Spirit Zulu Time, which also provided a dramatic conclusion to the second meeting.

Hasnaa delivered a thrilling performance, securing victory in a tightly contested finish. The 4-year-old bay filly, trained by Legrix and ridden by Silvestre De Sousa, crossed the line by a fraction of a margin ahead of Ahmed Al Mehairbi’s HM Jazi.

Despite the valiant effort from HM Jazi under Richard Mullen, Hasnaa’s superior speed and determination in the final stages proved decisive.