AL AIN: Racing at Al Ain on Friday was highlighted by second round of the Al Ain Marathon Series, a 3200m handicap for which seven went post and proved to be a career landmark 400th UAE winner for reigning champion jockey Richard Mullen.

Victory appeared less than likely on the back straight when Mullen was forced to get serious with his mount, Shamikh Al Wathba, trained on the Al Ain track by Jean de Roualle for Yas Horse Racing Management, but he responded well. Exiting the home turn, when last year’s winner, Balad Al Reef, drifted wide towards the outside rail, Mullen’s mount suddenly loomed as the main danger to Bayan who had taken up the running, fully 1400m out, from Shivan Oa. Once Mullen asked for a determined effort, they swept to the front and stayed on well, eventually posting a comfortable victory.

De Roualle said: “We were very hopeful coming here because we thought this kind of marathon trip would really suit him and it has. That was only the horse’s seventh start and we hope he has more to offer over these staying distances.”

On the landmark 400, Mullen added: “It is amazing and I could not be more proud; never did I think when I first came to the UAE that I would be achieving landmarks like this. I have been very lucky with great support from top people throughout my time here. Now I just need to put my head down and try to get to 500!”

Fresh from a three meeting suspension, multiple UAE champion jockey Tadhg O’Shea, one of the four previous jockeys to have reached that magic 400, wasted absolutely no time in returning to the winner’s enclosure, driving Inthar to a hard fought victory in the opening 1400m handicap. Owned and trained by Khalifa Al Neyadi, Inthar was recording a second career success, having previously won at Sharjah over 1200m in October 2016.

This was actually his sixth start of the current campaign and, having finished second on both his most recent outings, he arguably deserved to get his head back in front.

O’Shea said: “The plan was to miss the break a little bit because he has been racing too keenly and that worked well so I was able to ride a proper race on him. I spoke to the trainer and he agreed that was the best strategy so; luckily it has worked out perfectly. It is great to be back in the saddle and, obviously, a winner straight up is great!”

The only Thoroughbred race on the card was a 1000m handicap and Paranormal, tackling the minimum trip for just the second time in his career, prevailed under Pat Dobbs for champion trainer Doug Watson. Second at Sharjah on that previous attempt over 1000m, he then disappointed at Meydan two weeks later, but had been given a nice break since that run at the end of November.

“I ended up racing alone throughout most of the race and he was getting a bit lonely I think,” said Dobbs, who only had this one ride on the card. “He disappointed us last time at Meydan, but has had a nice break in between which has really freshened him up so well done to Doug and the whole team. I think that is the key to him; to space his races out and keep him fresh.”

Fourteen may have gone to post for a 2000m maiden but, from the top of the long Al Ain straight, only two were seriously involved.

O’Shea looked to be travelling ominously well aboard Asyad, but hard as they tried, they could not get past Hareer Al Reef, ridden by Fernando Jara for Abdallah Al Hammadi and Al Ajban Stables.