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  • 15 January 2017
    Al Asayl Stars in Treble Success at Abu Dhabi

    From their powerful base at Al Asayl Stables, the team of HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, his trainer Eric Lemartinel and main jockey, Tadhg O’Shea are always to be feared at Abu Dhabi and combined to win half of the six races on Sunday evening, with O'Shea going one better with four.

    Indeed Lemartinel won all three races in which he had runners with pride of place going to RB Dixie Burning, winner of the featured 2200m handicap.

    Given a patient ride by UAE Champion Jockey O’Shea the seven year old mare was allowed to settle in the rear of eight runners.

  • 14 January 2017
    Godolphins Acolyte Sets Out Carnival Stall with Meydan Sprint Win

    Racing at Meydan on Saturday was highlighted by the Al Naboodah Travel Trophy, a seemingly ultra-competitive 1200m turf handicap won emphatically by Godolphin’s Acolyte.

    Making his first start in the world famous blue silks for Saeed Bin Suroor, having previously been trained by Roger Charlton for whom he won three times, on the all-weather, Acolyte was returning to racecourse action having not been seen in public since October 2015.

    Always travelling strongly under Harry Bentley, he stormed to the front just under halfway and never looked in danger of being caught.

  • 14 January 2017
    Dixie Seeks Seventh Career Victory at Abu Dhabi Sunday

    Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club stages its first meeting of 2017 on Sunday with a six race card, highlighted by a 2200m handicap featuring six time winner, RB Dixie Burning.

    She faces seven rivals and is one of two owned by HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and trained by Eric Lemartinel.

    UAE Champion Jockey, Tadhg O’Shea, takes the ride.

    Victorious in her first three outings, all in early 2014, RB Dixie Burning was not seen again until March 2016 when third on her return at Abu Dhabi.

  • 13 January 2017
    Al Ain Dances to Balads tune as Al Hammadi Claims Al Ain Marathon

    Racing at Al Ain Racecourse on Friday was highlighted by the second and middle round of the Al Ain Marathon Series, a 3200m handicap won in dramatic fashion by Balad Al Reef.

    Sporting the colours of Al Ajban Stables and saddled by Abdallah Al Hammadi, he appeared to hold every chance entering the straight under Fernando Jara before drifting across the track to the nearside rail.

    His chance appeared to have been forfeited with Sheikh Down, Aslaan and Badira De Monlau seemingly fighting out a finish in the middle of the track.

  • 13 January 2017
    Globetrotting Beachy Head Makes Carnival Bid at Al Naboodah Saturday Meeting

    Speedballs Clash as Dubawi Stakes-Winning Zabeel Team Combine with Akeed Champion in Opposition

    • First AED300 Terrace Brunch of 2017 Offers Excellent Race Viewing. Tickets: store.meydan.ae until noon Saturday. Tickets on gate subject to availability.

    Saturday’s Racing at Meydan meeting provides a number of horses with the opportunity to demonstrate their credentials for the ultra-lucrative Dubai World Cup Carnival season which runs concurrently at Meydan Racecourse until the Dubai World Cup at the end of March.

  • 13 January 2017
    Reynaldo Lands Third Consecutive Dubawi Stakes for Treble-Winning Zabeel

    Veteran campaigner, Reynaldothewizard worked his old magic at Meydan Racecourse on Thursday evening, landing the Listed Dubawi Stakes for a third consecutive time and the fourth time in total.

    The Satish Seemar-trained stable star ground out a determined win over 2016 Dubai Golden Shaheen winner and course record holder, Muarrab.

    Muarrab’s jockey, Jim Crowley made a determined bid for victory from the front but eleven year old Reynaldothewizard, found his stride and finished the winner by half-a-length.

  • 12 January 2017
    Sheikh Down Bids to Repeat 2015 Antics in Al Ain Marathon Series

    Saturday’s meeting at Al Ain Racecourse is highlighted by a 3200m handicap, Round 2 of The Al Ain Marathon Series. This is the final race of seven for which 11 have been declared.

    Sheikh Down trained by Eric Lemartinel for HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and winner of this race in 2015 is a key contender, especially after victory in this season’s Round 1, over 2600m, which was his most recent start.

  • 11 January 2017
    Reynaldothewizard Seeks Third Dubawi Stakes Amid International Field

    Golden Shaheen Star Muarrab & US G1 Winner Wild Dude Oppose

    • Hospitality Tickets available on the gate

    The ever popular speedball, Reynaldothewizard will be in action on Thursday’s eight-race Dubai World Cup Carnival card as he bids to win a third consecutive Dubawi Stakes crown at Meydan Racecourse.

    The 1200m contest, sponsored by DP World UAE Region is run on the dirt track and Reynaldothewizard will face six rivals.

  • 07 January 2017
    Hamza Seals OShea Treble at Al Ain

    A treble for UAE Champion Jockey, Tadhg O’Shea including a double for both owner HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and trainer Eric Lemartinel, was the highlight of racing at Al Ain Racecourse yesterday evening.

    The trio combined to win both the last two races, including the finale and official feature, a 2000m handicap aboard Hamza.

  • 06 January 2017
    Lemartinel Double Handed in Al Ain Feature

    Saturday’s seven race card at Al Ain Racecourse is highlighted by the finale, a 2000m handicap for which 14 have been declared, headed by the Eric Lemartinel-trained pair of RB Torch and Hamza.

    Both are owned by HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Champion UAE Jockey, Tadhg O’Shea, elects to ride Hamza with Gerald Avranche aboard RB Torch.

    Twice a winner late last season, including the 1700m Ruler Of Sharjah Trophy, Hamza will be having his fifth start of the current campaign and ran well on his only previous Al Ain outing, three starts ago.

  • 06 January 2017
    Zabeel Stables Dominates Jebel Ali Friday Meeting

    Zabeel Stables hit a rich vein of form at Jebel Ali Racecourse on Friday afternoon with stable jockey Richard Mullen landing three races and trainer, Satish Seemar saddling two winners.

    The featured 1000m handicap at Jebel Ali Racecourse on Friday afternoon was won impressively by Seemar-trained local debutant, Ejbaar, running on strongly in the final 200m to collar Mutahaddith who had tried valiantly to make all under Tadhg O’Shea.

  • 05 January 2017
    Back-to-Back Victories for Le Bernadin in $250,000 Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge

    Local hero Le Bernadin became the first horse to score a second victory in the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 on Thursday as the star-studded 2017 Dubai World Cup Carnival got underway at Meydan Racecourse.

    The Al Maktoum Challenge R1 presented by Longines Elegance in Equestrian, was first contested in 1994 when Red Rainbow triumphed under Johnny Murtagh, and had never had a repeat winner. Keen to change that fact Tadhg O’Shea was fast away on his Ali Rashid Al Rayhi-trained mount from his draw in stall one.

  • 05 January 2017
    Indescribable Aims to Continue Red Stables Purple Patch

    A 1000m handicap is the highlight at Jebel Ali Racecourse’s first meeting of 2017.

    Twelve have been declared including Indescribable, trained by Doug Watson.

    A four-time winner in England while under the care of trainer Mark Johnston, he was well beaten on his local debut over 1200m at Meydan Racecourse.

    He went on to win in style at Jebel Ali over 1000m in November, which is the same distance as Friday’s contest.

  • 04 January 2017
    International Stars Jet in for Opening $1m Dubai World Cup Carnival Night

    Local Hero Le Bernadin Bids to Make History in Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge

    The 2017 Dubai World Cup Carnival gets underway at Meydan Racecourse on Thursday evening when the locally-trained Le Bernadin will bid to become the first horse to win the US$250,000 Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge R1 race twice.

    The Purebred Arabians get proceedings underway at 6.30pm with Group 1 action in Al Maktoum Challenge R1, while the Thoroughbreds will contest the featured Group 2 version of the race later on the card.

  • 03 January 2017
    ERA Media Release - Mr Nacer Samiri

    ERA Stewards held an inquiry after being notified that BRRAQ (FR), trained by Mr. Nacer Samiri, had been treated with Stanozolol, an anabolic steroid prohibited under ERA Rule 95B 2.

    Trainer Mr. Samiri pleaded guilty to a charge under the provisions of ERA Rule 95C(i), in that on the 28th November 2016, at his registered training location, Al Wathba Stables, he had in his possession Stanozolol, which if administered to a horse at any time could give rise to an offence under ERA Rule 95B.

    In considering penalty the Stewards took into account:
    • Mr. Samiri’s guilty plea,