Watson and Crowley combine for double in Dubai World Cup warm-up at Meydan

The jockey-trainer combination of Jim Crowley and Doug Watson combined for two successes, whilst jockey Xavier Ziani and trainer Satish Seemar both bagged a pair of victories on the last run-out before the season’s finale, the $30 million Dubai World Cup, in just over a fortnight’s time.

Thursday’s meeting card was highlighted by the Azizi Victoria Handicap, which run over 1600 metres looked set to be a competitive contest. As it was, it actually turned into something of a procession by one of Watson’s quintet, Nathr.

Soon in front in the hands of Crowley, retained jockey to the horse’s owner, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Nathr always looked to be travelling well and the pair ultimately skipped clear, crossing the line seven lengths ahead of Mazeed in second and Sheeba in third.

The double for the same connections came in similar fashion in the 1200 metre Azizi Riviera Handicap as Almanaara cantered to victory. He was the only one of the ten runners who looked likely to offer a serious challenge and was never headed, winning by a similar margin of over seven lengths from Ajraam in second and Salvadori in third.

The following Azizi Samia Maiden over 1400 metres saw Gundogdu made to work hard to get the early lead under jockey Xavier Ziani. However once they were there, the pair led for the remainder of the race.

Trained by Salem bin Ghadayer, Gundogdu was running for just the sixth time and was made to work hard by Ziani to take full advantage of that plumb draw in one. Once in front, those chasing started to drop away one by one and Ziani was able to give his mount a breather on the bend before committing for home at the top of the straight and winning by a length and three-quarters. Mudajaj was second with Dirilis Ertugrul close behind in third.

Ziani completed his evening’s double in the Azizi Farhad Handicap, with the Omar Daraj-trained Tailor’s Row. Despite being drawn widest of all in 15, the winner was sent straight to the lead for the 2200 metre contest and was never headed, coming in a length and a half in front of Quartier Francais in second, with Busker a distant third almost four lengths back.

The action began with a dramatic 2000 metre maiden, the Azizi Plaza, in which winner Dubawi’s Thunder, piloted by Bernardo Pinheiro for trianer Rashed Bouresly, galloped on resolutely to hold off Cranesbill and Cape of Eagles.

That was perhaps a pre-cursor to the Azizi Mina Handicap over 1400 metres proved to be an odd sort of race as Pilgrim’s Treasure snatched what appeared a most unlikely victory when flashing home under Adrie de Vries.

Having been last throughout the first half of the race and well out of contention, the Satish Seemar-trained horse summoned a dramatic late charge to deny Say No More in the dying strides to win by a nose, with Welford taking third over four lengths back.

The finale, the Azizi Star Handicap, was won in similar dramatic fashion by Cachao, under Antonio Fresu for trainer Seemar.

Owned by Ali Muktar, the son of New Approach appeared well-beaten by runaway frontrunner First Down at the top of the lane, but the leader tailed off and was caught late on by the winner and a narrow second-place finisher Tobaco. The winning margin was a neck, with another length and a quarter distance back to First Down.

All focus now will be for the next and final meeting of the season at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday, 31 March, with the eagerly-anticipated $30 million Dubai World Cup card.