SANSHAAWES, the game seven-year-old South African bred, ran on strongly in pouring rain to win the EGA Jebel Ali Trophy over 2000m on turf at Meydan, Thursday.

Christophe Soumillon, who had won on Sanhaawes three times before, rode a perfectly timed race to win by 1.50-lengths from a late-finishing Dylan Mouth, after a brief tussle with Belgian Bill, who got third place.

“That was a good battle between two Belgians,” said Soumillon. “Sanshaawes is a tough horse who always gives his best but not one you want to hit the front on too soon.”

Mike de Kock was very pleased and said on Friday morning: “Another old soldier from South Africa keeps our season on track! Well done to Barbara Sanne, who bred Sanshaawes at Oldlands Stud. He’s earned 17 cheques from 19 runs since joining us here in 2014 and he must have earned a ton of money in rands.

Thomas Ncume (right), who grooms Sanshaawes, received a prize for best turned out horse.

“Sanshaawes has been in very good form this season, we are all proud of him and so happy to have a tough old handicapper like him in the yard. This was no surprise, we expected him to go close and he’s not done yet!”

Sanshaawes races for Sheik Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum.

The other plus on the night was a much improved run from Muwaary in a handicap over 1600m. Mike told: “He arrived here on Christmas Eve and we’ve had to race him fit. He improved 15 lengths on his last run and I think next time he can be watched for a big run.”

Mike was disappointed in Lindo Amor, unplaced in the Al Maktoum Challenge (Round 2) over 1900m on dirt, but offered some thoughts: “Lindo Amor is better than this. He may be best up to a mile, but nothing went his way in this race. He had to run five wide and perhaps it was just a flat effort in his second run here. We’ve seen horses run dismally on the sand only to follow it with a cracking run. I prefer to draw a line through this one. Lindo Amor deserves another chance.”

Saltarin Dubai raced with Sanshaawes – he was off the bit before the bend and faded out. Mike said: “He’s been very disappointing on the whole.”

Photos by Andrew Watkins.

Watch race replay below: