Listed success for Durcan
Ted Durcan produced Satish Seemar’s Trademark to snatch victory from King Jock in the last strides of a Listed mile race at Abu Dhabi.
It was a great effort from the rider who, drawn wide, was forced to make his challenge down the centre of the track. Last year’s winner, Princess Haya’s Summoner, was third.
South African-bred, the nine-year-old winner has now landed 12 of his 60 starts but, remarkably, was scoring for the first time in the UAE, having made his local debut in this race in 2002 when an unlucky third.
Seemar explained: “We had quite a lot of problems with him last year but he still performed well. He appreciated the strong pace tonight and we were hopeful of a big run as he had been working well.
“The draw had been a worry but Ted has done well.
“He is now a Listed winner in the UAE as well as a Group One winner in South Africa and Grade Two-placed in America and we will look at the Carnival for him now.”
Durcan added: “The horse has deserved a good win. We were unlucky in this race three years ago and he always tries his best. He had been working well and, though getting no younger, he retains all his enthusiasm.”
