Scots Pine lands feature at Meydan opener as Mheiri grabs treble

Scots Pine lands feature at Meydan opener as Mheiri grabs treble

Racing at Meydan returned on Thursday evening with a seven race card officially highlighted by the Graduate Stakes sponsored by Emirates Airlines, won by Scots Pine, ridden by Richard Mullen. A new race this season, the 1400m conditions contest was restricted to horses purchased at the ERA Racing in Dubai Sales staged in September 2020 or 2021, as well as April 2021. The winner cost just Dhs35,000 in September 2020. It attracted a field of just five and Mullen, riding in the colours of Sayed Hashish & Hana Refai, went straight to the front, stalked by Melicertes. When that rival weakened about 275m out the result was never in doubt. A 4yo gelded son of Shamardal, he was losing his maiden tag at the sixth attempt, fourth locally and on his first appearance for trainer Beverley Deutrom. Part-owner Hashish said: “Hopefully he is going to turn out a bargain and we thought dirt would suit him though he has good turf form. “He had sore shins last season so he had excuses and it is great to get a winner early on.” The meeting licked off with a 1400m maiden for 3yos, the Arabian Adventures and it went to Atlantic