Laa Rayb: previous win was in the Totesport Mile at Glorious Goodwood
PICTURE: Mark CranhamLaa Rayb off the mark in UAE at eighth attempt
Report: UAE, Sunday
Abu Dhabi
LAA RAYB (Dhruba Selvaratnam/William Buick) opened his UAE account at the eighth attempt in Abu Dhabi's only thoroughbred race, a 1m handicap, on Sunday evening and, in doing so, won for the first time since landing the Totesport Mile at Glorious Goodwood in July 2009.
That was one of six wins he achieved for Mark Johnston, highlighted by a Group 3 victory at Deauville in 2008.
The eight-year-old had demonstrated on regular occasions that he retained plenty of ability and found himself competing here off a handicap mark of 100, 5lb below his last winning mark and he took full advantage.
Arguably unlucky at Meydan on his previous outing, he was held up off the pace by Buick before closing as the runners turned for home at which stage UAE debutant Mont Agel was sent for home by Andrea Atzeni.
The Daug Watson-trained Clasp loomed as a big danger under Tadhg O'Shea along with Buick's mount who gained the initiative well within the final furlong to the delight of Selvaratnam who said: "It has taken us a while to get his head in front and it is great to see him win. He has plenty of ability and has run some good races in defeat but things have never really fallen his way until this evening."
Comments