O’Shea and Fresu enter final stretch in battle for UAE jockey’s title

The UAE jockey’s championship race is reaching a climax as the season moves into the home stretch, beginning with Meydan’s non-Dubai World Cup Carnival meeting on Thursday.

With 14 race meetings left, including the Dubai World Cup on March 26, nine-time UAE champion Tadhg O’Shea and Antonio Fresu, bidding for his first championship crown, are locked on 51 winners each. The season culminates at Al Ain on April 1.

O’Shea has six rides in the seven-race Meydan card, while Fresu is booked in all races.

The Graduate Stakes, a 1,600-metre conditions race on turf, restricted to horses sold at ERA Racing In Dubai Sales in the past two years, is the official feature prize on the night.

Bhupat Seemar, who leads the UAE trainer’s championship title race on 38 winners, five ahead of defending champion Doug Watson, is double-handed in the race with Law Of Peace, the choice of O’Shea, and Bosphorus, the mount of Dane O’Neill.

6pm: The Pointe - Conditions (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m

6.35pm: Palm West Beach - Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (T) 1,800m

7.10pm: The View at the Palm - Handicap (TB) Dh85,000 (Dirt) 1,400m

7.45pm: Nakeel Graduate Stakes - Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m

8.20pm: Club Vista Mare - Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,900m

8.55pm: The Palm Fountain - Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,200m

9.30pm: The Palm Tower - Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,600m

Twice a winner over the track and trip - and winner of a maiden in Abu Dhabi in middle of February last year - Law Of Peace appears to be the one to beat in the eight-runner contest.

“That was a very pleasing victory from Law Of Peace last week and this is an obvious next target but does come round rather quick,” Seemar said of the five-year-old Shamardal gelding.

“The season is drawing