Winner for Supple

Willie Supple was on the scoreboard at Nad Al Sheba this evening as the Doug Watson-trained Bounty Quest ran out the game winner of the seven-furlong maiden.

A three-year-old gelded son of Fasliyev, he stayed on strongly once hitting the front two furlongs out and was always holding the challenge of Maqadeer.

The mile maiden was won by Dhruba Selvaratnam’s Morafij, who was losing his maiden tag at the 12th attempt. Ridden by Irish apprentice Rory Cleary, it was Selvaratnam’s first winner of the season.

Runner-up Private Possession was the unlucky horse as he lost a lot of ground at the start, in first-time blinkers, under Tadhg O’Shea.

Cleary said: “That was brilliant. It is great to ride a winner for the boss, Dhruba. The horse disappointed last time but he is a nice horse and he has done it well. It is going well so far and I am really enjoying it.”

The pair were back in the winner’s enclosure 30 minutes later when Almaram ran out the convincing winner of the 1300m handicap.

Having only his seventh start, it was the five-year-olds second win and he looks a horse to follow.

A delighted Cleary added: “He is a really nice horse who will stay a lot further. He has had a lot of problems and could be a really progressive type if we can keep him sound.”

The 1,500m handicap was the most valuable race of the night and Rashed Bouresly’s Egyptian ran out a nine-length winner having made every yard under South African Peter Dillon.

Bouresly said: “He is a very nice horse and we hope to qualify him for the Carnival. Peter has given him a great ride and we will see how the horse is before making further plans.”

The concluding 10-furlong handicap was won in exactly the same style by Bouresly’s Baldaquin, again under Dillon, who was far too good for his 12 rivals.