Unbeaten Abhaar (UAE), owned and bred by HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan ended a memorable Sharjah season with victory in the HH The Ruler Of Sharjah Cup on Saturday. With five victories from five starts Abhaar is the rising star of trainer Salem Al Ketbi based at Al Asayl.

HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan was not so lucky in the Abu Dhabi season’s finale, the Gr.1 Emirates Championship (2200m) on March 15th, when Nymphea Du Paon (FR) in the Sheikh’s familiar red and white silks, had to settle for second, with It’s Far From Over (USA), catching the flying mare close to the line.

Ridden by Oisin Murphy and trained by Omar Dajar, It’s Far From Over has taken a long time to acclimatise, but finally delivered on the promise he had shown earlier.

Al Asayl Racing’s fortunes continued as Al Ketbi and O’Shea won all three legs of the Arabian Triple Crown Series for the powerful owner, just not with the same horse. His unbeaten star Abhaar (UAE) romping home in the first leg, the Listed Arabian Triple Crown Round 1 (1600m), winning by 2.75 lengths from stablemate Shaheer (UAE) on the 4th of January at Abu Dhabi.

Shaheer then cantered home in the second leg, the Aed300,000 Group 3 Arabian Triple Crown Round 2 (2200m), beating stable companion Namrood (FR) by an impressive 3.25 lengths at Abu Dhabi on the 22 of February. With Shaheer and Abhaar not competing in the third leg, the Gr.3 Triple Crown Round 3 (2400m) on the 1st of March, also at Abu Dhabi, it was the turn of Namrood and O’Shea to return victorious, having beaten Newboy Du Paon (FR) comfortably by 1.75 lengths.