Nad Al Sheba Review Sunday, January 16th
Dhruba Selvaratnam was expected to dominate the Nad Al Sheba meeting last Sunday evening and, in doing so, begin his charge on the 1999/2000 trainer's championship however the person that grabbed the headlines was jockey Darren Biggs.
While Selvaratnam did manage to secure a win with the reliable sprinter Proud Irishman, it was Biggs who had the more successful night, riding a winning double, both aboard Purebred Arabians Orkhan de Jacmar and Never Mind.
It was Biggs' first double in the Emirates the jockey showing what he can do once given the opportunity, this being his first season of race riding in the UAE.
Defending champion jockey Willie Supple rode Proud Irishman to win the 0-95 sprint event on the card, the son of Irish Open overcoming a tardy start to win nicely.
Supple knows he is in for a fight to defend his title with Ted Durcan and Neil Pollard setting the pace in front, both of those jockeys going winless for the evening.
Paddy Rudkin still holds on to a healthy lead at the head of the trainer's premiership, he saddled three in the 00-90 handicap over 1,600m on the turf and it was the least fancied of the trio, Superiority, a graduate of the Dubai Horses in Training Sale at the start of the season.
Dane O'Neill secured another win for the season, this time aboard the Erwan Charpy-trained stayer Marciale, who proved too good Royal Shock, ridden by Pollard, in the 00-75 handicap over 2,400m.
