Ottoman picked up where he left off last season, achieving a hat-trick in the Abu Dhabi opening meeting – consisting of five races for thoroughbred Arabs and one for thoroughbreds on Sunday.

Back on the track after two Group 3 awards to his name last season, the four-year-old Valiant Boy did everything under Patrick Cosgrave to win the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Prep of Harrab and Mujeeb by five and a half. lengths and three lengths, respectively.

“It was a very pleasant first round in over seven months,” said coach Abdallah Al Hammadi.

“Ottoman was impressive and had Group 1 militants struggling behind him tonight. He is a young horse and I would like to think that there is more to come from him.

“We’ll see how he got out of this race and then decide where he goes next.

“The [Group 1] The crown jewel in just under a month is an obvious option now that he has won the preparation race in a very impressive way. As a young horse there are a lot of options for him to choose from.

Al Hammadi celebrated a second winner half an hour later when Dane O’Neill had a strong late run over Goulash to win the penultimate race by a short header from AF Moulami with Sandro Paiva in the saddle.

Cosgrave also celebrated a brace by taking the final thoroughbred handicap on Erwan Charpy’s Spirit Of Light.

Ernst Oertel also saddled a double, both in the bristles of Emirati owner-breeder Khalid Khalifa Al Naboodah.

Malin Holmberg dominated AF Soqrat in the first of two Wathba Stallions Cup winners and Tadhg O’Shea did everything on AF Mahzamy in the 2,200-meter handicap race.

The coach-owner’s brace brought their tally to four wins each in three games for the Arabs during the season.

“We have a lot of young horses like every season and it’s good to have some early winners,” said Al Naboodah, who has five UAE owners’ championship titles.

“AF Mahzamy is one of those with potential. He won the Al Ain Derby on clay last season and tonight he led all the way to win his first start of the season.

“He’s only four years old and will get even better. It is also versatile and can handle any surface. This is only his fourth start to his career and we’ll decide where he goes next.

Results:

5 p.m .: Maiden (PA) 80,000 Dh (Turf) 1,200 m; Winner: JAP Alhattal, Royston Ffrench (jockey), Irfan Elahi (trainer)

5:30 p.m .: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) 70,000 Dh (T) 1,600 m; Winner: AF Soqrat, Malin Holmberg, Ernst Oertel

6 p.m .: Handicap (PA) 80,000 Dh (T) 2,200 m from where it left; Winner: AF Mahzamy, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

6.30 p.m .: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown Prep – Nominal Conditions (PA) 125,000 Dh (T) 2,200 m; Winner: Ottoman, Pat Cosgrave, Abdallah Al Hammadi

7 p.m .: Maiden (PA) 80,000 Dh (T) 1,400 m; Winner: Goulash, Dane O’Neill, Abdallah Al Hammadi

7:30 p.m .: Handicap (TB) 80,000 Dh (T) 1,400 m; Winner: Spirit Of Light, Patrick Cosgrave, Erwan Charpy

Update: November 7, 2021, 8:59 p.m.