A brilliant timed ride by Adrie De Vries bringing home Jaafer for a storming win trained in Qatar by Julian Smart no stranger to winning the Dubai Kahayla Classic in 20002 with Nez D'Or, Richard Hills aboard the favourite No Risk Al Maury may have thought he had it won passing Kandar Du Falgas but Jaafer has won it very impressively and a gallant third place by the long time leader Paris Gagner

QUOTES

Adrie de Vries, jockey, Jaafer, winner: “Travelled nicely all the way around there. He was a different class. I was not concerned about being well back in the field early. He really loves the ground. It was my first ride at Meydan and to win at the first night was just amazing.”

Richard Hills, jockey, No Risk Al Maury, 2nd: “He travelled really good like he normally does. The winner won very well. It’s hot today and he’s a bit of a free sweater. In the UAE when it gets hot, those little bits can count when it comes to winning these type of races.”

William Supple, jockey, Paris Gagner, 3rd: “He had a great run up front though I knew was beaten up the straight, he kept sticking on.”

Tadhg O’Shea, jockey, Kandar du Falgas, 4th: “It was a true run race. He had a lovely trip and picked up but was not quite good enough.”

Wigeberto Ramos jockey, Nashwan al Khaldiah, 6th:“I was happy with my position. At the 600 when they started to run, he stayed with them but at the 400 when I asked him, he didn’t give me enough.”

Olivier Peslier, jockey, Theoretically, 11th: “I had a good trip. We were just next to the leaders into the stretch turn and then down the stretch it was just too much for him.

Royston Ffrench, jockey, Palapal, 12th: “He travelled OK early but he was beaten a long way from. He was disappointing today.”

Richard Mullen, jockey, Nesnaas, 13th: “We were never really competitive today.”