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The HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup, a 1700m handicap and only Thoroughbred race on the card, was the highlight of Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club’s final meeting of 2016 on Saturday afternoon.

It was won by Fa’Iz, trained by Frenchman Erwan Charpy and was produced with a steady challenge throughout the final stages to lead close home under the trainer’s compatriot Gerald Avranche.

For Fa’Iz, it was a second career victory both registered for Charpy on his 49th outing and 41st since switching to the UAE.

With a prize fund of AED100,000, the HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup is the standout contest at Saturday’s penultimate meeting of the Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club’s season.

In addition, the 1700m handicap is also the only Thoroughbred race on the card.

Not surprisingly, the race was oversubscribed and the maximum field of 16 should be guaranteed with four reserves available to replace any non-runners.

Ali Rashid Al Rayhi looks to hold a very strong hand with three runners all of whom have solid claims, including Lake Hawk the mount of stable jockey Tadhg O’Shea.

Oman based trainer Said Al Badi made his first foray to the UAE a winning one with the ultra impressive victory of Maisoor in the 1600m Listed Abu Dhabi Championship, the feature at Sunday’s meeting in the capital.

Unbeaten after five starts in Muscat, all on dirt, his jockey, Anas Al Siyabi probably never had a moment of worry with the pair, seemingly without effort, stalking the early pace before hitting the front on the home turn.

In a matter of strides they were clear to maintain that unbeaten record and, probably just as importantly, prove Maisoor’s effectiveness on turf.

UAE Champion Trainer, Doug Watson, is clearly intent on retaining his crown and followed up his five winners at Meydan on Thursday by landing the featured 1700m handicap at Sharjah on Saturday afternoon, courtesy of Hakim.

Stable jockey for Watson at Red Stables, Pat Dobbs, who was aboard three of the yard’s winners on Thursday, was soon in front on Hakim and able to secure what appeared a relatively easy lead.

Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club’s meeting on Saturday afternoon is highlighted by a 1700m handicap for which 14 have been declared.

Al Asayl Stables offers two promising competitors in Cloe De Faust and RB Burning Ash, both trained by Eric Lemartinel for HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Stable jockey, Tadhg O’Shea, elects to ride RB Burning Ash who has just one career victory to his name but has been running consistently and has finished third on both starts this season.

The champion jockey is confident Al Asayl’s residents won’t disappoint.

Group Winners Take to the Track Ahead of January 5 Carnival Launch

• Tickets available from Meydan Ticket Sales Office.
• First race 6:30pm

Muarrab, the $2m Dubai Golden Shaheen Champion, gets his title-defense season underway at Meydan Racecourse on Thursday evening with an appearance in the Listed Garhoud Sprint sponsored by Lincoln Continental.

That 1200m Golden Shaheen victory on Dubai World Cup night 2016 was the highlight of Muarrab’s impressive 13 career victories, 11 of which have been registered in the UAE since joining Musabbeh Al Mheiri at Oasis Stables.

Jockey Royston Ffrench earned his riding fee aboard Sniper De Monlau on Saturday evening, when the Helal Al Alawi-trained Purebred Arabian was victorious in the inaugural running of Al Ain’s National Day Cup.

A conditions contest over 1800m, Ffrench’s mount was slowly away and soon trailing his seven rivals prompting his jockey to get busy in the saddle almost immediately.

Making his dirt debut on just his sixth career outing, Sniper De Monlau did not appear happy until he was switched wide by Ffrench at the halfway mark.