Local apprentice Saeed Al Mazrooei, only recently returned from National Service, was aboard and said: “I was always happy during the race and this horse did it nicely in the end.”

On Sunday, the action moves to the capital. The thoroughbreds take centre stage with their sole race on the six race card, a 2,200m handicap, not only the most valuable but, arguably, the most interesting.

Trainer Satish Seemar has four of the declared runners with jockey Richard Mullen choosing Pupil over his three stable companions.

Assistant trainer to his uncle, Satish, Bhupat Seemar said: “We  have four live hopes. Pupil ran a massive race last week. We also have Maysoor, a new recruit from Australia, but a horse we like who can hopefully do well here. Our other pair, Rassam and Carbon Dating are also nice horses who should run well so we have high hopes.”

There have been two previous thoroughbred races at Abu Dhabi this season, won by horses saddled by Ali Rashid Al Rayhi and Doug Watson. Watson saddles both Alkawn and Resonant. Al Rayhi is forced to rely on Mundahesh, owned by Sheikh Hamdan, with stablemate Mutual Force, only among the reserves.

Ahmad bin Harmash is another trainer with more than one runner and his Snow Squall will be the first mount of Colm O’Donoghue. The best of the purebred action is also a 2,200m handicap. Eric Lemartinel enjoyed a big race double last Sunday and his RB Rich Surprise could be the one to beat.

Silk Stockings was never sighted over 1,600m seven days ago but did run a race suggesting this return to the track will suit.