Leading English jockey Michael Hills returned to racing in the United Arab Emirates in style with a winning double at Thursday`s opening meeting at Nad Al Sheba.
While leading English apprentice Keith Dalgleish enjoyed the perfect start to his first Winter sojourn with victory on his first ride in the opening race of the 2000/2001 season.
Hills rode on a full time basis in the early years of racing in the Emirates and has returned for this Winter to ride for trainer Paddy Rudkin. His wins on the opening night were aboard the Rudkin-trained Crystal Magician and last season`s champion Purebred Arabian Ezil.
Dalgleish`s 2.5kilogram claim looks sure to be well utilised by trainers in the Emirates this season judging by his polished performance to land My Pleasure a winner in the opening event, denying new trainer Peter Brette and Willie Ryan with the perfect beginning to their new association when Starlight Festival could manage only second.
Ryan, like Hills a former permanentrider in the early years of racing in the UAE, was to follow Hills into the winner`s list later in the evening when denying that jockey when riding Ariant to victory in the main thoroughbred event.
Ariant raced on the speed and the weight advantage he had over stablemate Fire Thunder was enough to secure him victory, the second horse turning in a fine trial for the Listed national Day Cup at Abu Dhabi in a month`s time.
The horse also provided Rudkin with an opening night treble after the earlier wins of Crystal Magician and Rajjaaf, the latter getting Richard Hills` 2000/2001 campaign off to a bright start.
Rajjaaf denied the Brette-trained pair of Lothair and Madraar, the result continuing a frustrating opening evening for the jockey turned trainer, being denied the perfect start when Starlight Festival finished second in the opening event and Sudden Squall a similar position in the final race making it three seconds out of six races on his first night as a trainer.
The final event was won by Circus which began the defence of the championship winning titles for trainer Satish Seemar and jockey Ted Durcan.
