Gulf News : Periander scores memorable victory for Dutch owner

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Abu Dhabi: Dutch owner Margaretha De Ruiter-Floor was in tears when her globe-trotting Periander won the Emirates Championship (Group 1) race for Purebred Arabians on the concluding night of the capital’s racing season.

After winning her first Group 1 race, Margaretha is now in a fix as she has received an invite for the Dubai Kahayla Classic (Group 1) race on Dubai World Cup night. “We entered him here as we were not sure of an invite for the Purebred feature on March 26. Now we will have to see how he is and take the opinion of Gillian Duffield,” said the Dutch owner after Periander staved off a strong challenge from Raked under Gerald Avranche to win only his second career race in 17 starts.

“Duffield has done a great job on him and he really seems to be enjoying himself in the UAE. He ran a great race to finish second to Santhal in the Maktoum Challenge (Group 1) Round Two and after a poor run in the Third Round he has come back strongly tonight,” said after her horse was declared winner after a close finish with a short head separating Periander from Raked. Later in the Group 3 Abu Dhabi Championship for Thoroughbreds, the Mubarak Bin Shafya-trained Topclas under Patrick Cosgrave stunned a classy field to win the penultimate race.

Earlier, Tadhg O’Shea took another step towards defending the jockey’s title when he won the opening race on Ragdan.

RESULTS

1.Al Bateen Condition race, UAE-bred Pas, 00-35, Dh35,000, 6F:
1.Ragdan (Dr. Jaber Bittar) Tadhg O’Shea; 2. AF Sadaa; 3. Ameer Al Sraya. Dist: Hd, 1.25L. Time: 1:18.47.

2.Al Manhal Handicap, Pas, Dh40,000, 7F:
1. Najem Al Khalij (Saifaldin Deeb) Richard Mullen; 2. Naseem Al Reef; 3. Rahawan Al Reef. Dist: Hd, 0.75L. Time:1:31.22

3.Wathba Stud farm Cup, Pas, Dh 80,000, 8F:
1. Sarabella (Anthony Manuel)Richard Mullen; 2. AF Dhaham; 3. AF Murshid. Dist: 2.25L, 0.25L. Time: 1:44.99.

4. Emirates Championship, Group 1, Pas, Dh 200,000, 11F:
1. Periander (Gillian Duffield) Adrie de Vries; 2. Raked; 3. Nesnaas. Dist: Shd, 3.25L. Time: 2:26.85

5. Abu Dhabi Championship (Group 3), Thoroughbreds, Dh 370,000, 11F:
1. Topclas (Mubarak Bin Shafya) Patrick Cosgrave; Dr. Faustus; 3. Hunting Tower. Dist: 1L, 1.25L. Time: 2:14.01

6. Last Chance Conditions Race, PA, Dh. 35,000, 11F:
1. Timadit Al Mels (Ridha Ben Attia) Royston Ffrench, Shaheen Ghantoot, Harb.