Jenkille Hipolyte delivered a rousing performance to claim the Al Arish Cup at the Al Uqda Racecourse Thursday.
The seven-year-old bay, owned and trained by Osama Omer Al-Dafea, showed tenacity and class to prevail by a head in a nail-biting finish, under a well-timed ride from Arnaud De Lepine to the Purebred Arabian Conditions contest for four-year-olds and up over 1300m.
The early lead changed hands repeatedly, with Taymoor Al Shahania showing the way initially before Shagraan took over briefly. That advantage was short-lived, however, as Kamun Du Nil surged forward to assume control, setting a solid tempo and maintaining the lead into the early part of the home straight.
He was chased closely by Taymoor Al Shahania, Shagraan and Manjam, with Jenkille Hipolyte tracking that leading group patiently, always within striking distance. As the field straightened, Jenkille Hipolyte began to press in earnest, quickening smartly to reel in the front-runners.
Inside the final 200m, he hit the front, but the contest was far from settled as Al Khbaib, who had been held up toward the rear for much of the journey, launched a thunderous late challenge from off the pace. The closing stages developed into a gripping duel, with Al Khbaib rapidly closing the gap and threatening to sweep past. Jenkille Hipolyte, however, dug deep under pressure, finding just enough to hold on gamely and secure victory on the line. Al Khbaib, racing for Al Shaqab Racing and trained by Jean de Mieulle, finished a close second under Olivier d’Andigne, beaten only a head, but two lengths clear of the remainder.
RESULTS
40th Al Uqda Race Meeting - Al Arish Cup
RESULTS (Horse, Trainer, Jockey)
Al Arish Cup - Purebred Arabian Conditions (Class 2)
Jenkille Hipolyte, Osama al-Dafea, Arnaud De Lepine
Thoroughbred Handicap 75-95 (Shalfa Qualifier) (Class 3)
Pacifiste, Mohd Ahmed Mohd Hasan al-Sulaiti, Jefferson Smith
Thoroughbred Handicap 70-90 (Class 3)
Ponga (IRE), Khalifa Hamed Nasser al-Sawai, Mohammed Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik
Thoroughbred Handicap 70-90 (Class 3)
Al Mundher (FR), Owaida Salem al-Hajri, Abdulla Rashid al-Hajri
Thoroughbred Fillies And Mare Novice Plate (Class 5)
Tabahi (IRE), Ibrahim Saeed al-Malki, Tomas Lukasek
Local Purebred Arabian Handicap 0-65 (Class 6)
Al Qaws (QA), Zuhair Mohsen, Saleh Faraj al-Otaibi
Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate (Class 6)
Jabroot (QA), Alban Elie De Mieulle, Soufiane Saadi
Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate (4yo Only) (No Official Rating) (Class 6)
Navarzato (FR), Mohammed al-Ghazali, Soufiane Saadi
Local Purebred Arabian Premium Maiden Plate (Class 6)
Agshar (QA), Tareq Essa RA Abdulla, Szczepan M
