Bhupat Seemar lands double at Meydan to lead UAE trainers' title race

Bhupat Seemar racked up a double at Meydan on Sunday to open a two-winner lead over Doug Watson in the UAE trainer’s title race.

Bosphorus under Dane O’Neill led a one-two finish for Seemar in the second race and the stable jockey Tadhg O’Shea landed the official feature prize of the meeting on Royal Mews 35 minutes later to bring up his 50th winner of the season and take Seemar’s tally to 32.

O’Shea settled the five-year-old Siyouni gelding in midfield and, perhaps significantly, slightly wide out of any kickback. Once asked to win his race at the top of the straight, the outcome was soon beyond any doubt.

This was only his sixth career start and second victory, having won over 2,000m on the Chelmsford all-weather when trained by John and Thady Gosden for Godolphin.

2.30pm: Park Avenue – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (Dirt) 2,000m; Winner: Rb Seqondtonone, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)

3.05pm: Al Furjan – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,200m; Winner: Bosphorus, Dane O’Neill, Bhupat Seemar

3.40pm: Mina – Rated Condition (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Royal Mews, Tadhg O’Shea, Bhupat Seemar

4.15pm: Aliyah – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,900m; Winner: Ursa Minor, Ray Dawson, Ahmad bin Harmash

4.50pm: Riviera Beach – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 2,200m; Winner: Woodditton, Saif Al Balushi, Ahmad bin Harmash

5.25pm: Riviera – Handicap (TB) Dh2,000 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Al Madhar, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi

6pm: Creek Views – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Al Salt, Dane O’Neill, Erwan Charpy

Seemar enjoyed a 1-2 in the preceding 1,200m turf maiden, Lake Causeway, racing alone on the nearside rail under O’Shea, denied by Bosphorus in the centre, the mount of O’Neill.