On her first start in Ireland, the Al Wasmiyah Stud-owned Dhabyah (GB) (Australia x Sola Gratia) won the Western Motors Drogheda (Q.R) Race at Bellewstown on Thursday.
Having her first start for Joseph Patrick O’Brien, Dhabyah recorded a second success in just five career starts. Dhabyah broke sharply from a wide draw and was quickly switched across by jockey John Gleeson to take a prominent position on the rail. Having taken the lead soon after, she set a steady pace and always looked comfortable in front.
As the field turned for home, Dhabyah was pressed strongly by the eventual second, the 7-year-old gelding Big Challenge, who is trained by James McAuley and was ridden by Lisa O’Neill.
However, when asked for an effort, the 4-year-old Dhabyah extended readily to go on and win very comfortably by three lengths at the line. The Emmet Mullins-trained and Barry O’Neill-ridden, 4-year-old gelding, Crown Major (JPN) stayed on strongly to finish further one and a quarter lengths behind and take third close home in the 2,400m contest for 4-year-olds and older TBs.