Yahoo News 
Dead-heat sees Waqqad and Areeb split Sharjah honours
There was dead-heat drama at Sharjah’s final meeting of the season on Saturday with the judge unable to separate Al Waqqad and MH Areeb at the end of the 1,700m Ruler Of Sharqah Cup race.
Tony Manuel trains Al Waqqad, was produced right on the line by Adrie De Vries with what briefly appeared a winning challenge. But the photo showed that Daragh O’Donohoe and MH Areeb had not been denied, to the delight of his trainer Saleha Al Ghurair who, earlier on the card, had saddled her first-ever winner.
Al Ghurair said: “What a truly amazing afternoon – to saddle that first winner was special, but this is just brilliant. I knew it was close and am happy to share the prize at the end of a truly special day.”
Her first winner, MH Thirteen, in a 1,700m maiden was ridden by Jose Santiago, who was also opening his own UAE account.
The meeting opened with a 1.200m maiden, won by the Eric Lemartinel-trained Mawared El Medam under Gerald Avranche. Apprentice jockey Marc Monaghan made it eight for the season when made to work hard on the Gill Duffield-trained AF Mursid in a 1,700m handicap.
The only Thoroughbred race on the card was a 1,200m handicap and Paul Hanagan made virtually every yard of the running on Tagseed to send Musabah Al Muhairi one clear at the top of the trainers’ table for the season.
Al Muhairi said: “That was a nice surprise as we thought Special Boy was our best chance in the race.”
The Sharjah season concluded with the Sharjah Marathon, a 2,700m handicap, and the Majed Al Jahouri-trained Laahaq gained the day under Harry Bentley.
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