After a tardy start, Lee was happy to take his time, settling the 5-year-old towards the rear of the 11 runners before easing him closer on the sweeping home turn.
Asked for his effort early in the straight, Lee’s mount responded well, passing long time leader AF Al Baher, who plugged on gamely for third, at the 350m pole.
They were immediately challenged by ES Maydan, trained on the Al Ain track by Mohamed Ramadan and who looked the more likely winner with 200m left under apprentice Rowan Scott.

However, they were never quite able to wrestle the initiative from RB Fired Up who was registering a third career victory and second over course and distance having won a similar handicap last November.
That was actually his second UAE outing, having arrived from the US with a 1600m debut victory at Delaware Park to his name.
Lee said: “We travelled around lovely and I thought we were going to win easily, but, in the end, it was hard work with the runner-up pushing him all the way to the line.”
The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is sustained by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council, with National Feed and Flour Production and Marketing Co. LLC as associate sponsors, The National Archives as the official partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers, in cooperation with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR, Emirates Arabian Horse Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare and sponsored by Ayadi LLC, Global United Veterinary Services LLC, Wathba Stallions, Abu Dhabi Falconers Club, Emirates Falconers Club, Mohamed Bin Zayed Falconry and Desert Physiognomy School, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Omeir Travels, Laboratories Fadia Karam Cosmetics, YAS Channel, Racing Post, Paris Turf, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE’s General Women’s Union, The Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2017, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Anantara Eastern Mangroves Spa and Resort.
