The former and Tadhg O'Shea prevailed, the pair regaining the initiative right on the line having been headed with about 25m remaining. Connections were celebrating a quick double having also won the preceding 1400m handicap.
A 4yo gelded son of Medaglis D'Oro, the winner was registering a third career success having won twice in Britain for John Gosden. This was his fourth start, all in 2022, for Seemar and his new owners.
O'Shea said: "To be honest I thought I was beat but full credit to my fellow because he just kept battling away and put his head back in front on the line. It was a great effort from both horses."
The previous handicap, over 1400m, was turned into a procession by Western Symphony who left his seven rivals trailing under O'Shea, in the colours of Al Rashid Stables for Seemar.
Bred by Godolphin, the 4yo gelded son of Shamardal won a 1600m maiden for them on the all-weather at Newcastle on the second of five starts in Britain for Charlie Appleby.
This was fifth outing for Seemar, all this year, any by far his best performance in the UAE.
The second joint feature, over 1900m, attracted a field of just seven runners but only ever really mattered with Book Review sent straight to the front by Royston Ffrench, the pair clear entering the home straight clear and staying on strongly to score emphatically for Salem bin Ghadayer and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum.
Ffrench said: "We know he goes well fresh and once he has a lead he is a very hard horse to get past. Hopefully he can have a good season and be a bit more consistent than he has been in the past."
The Meydan season kicked off with the first 2yo race of the season, a 1200m maiden in which Sharp Army and Ray Dawson were always in the first pair before dominating over the final 100m for trainer Ahmad bin Harmash and owner Mohammed Ahmad Ali Al Subousi.
A colt by Sharp Azteca, the winner cost $40,000 at Ocala in April of this year and showed a determined attitude having led early on before headed just after halfway. He fought back determinedly to lead where it really mattered.
Dawson said: "We had a bad draw so to do that as he has is very pleasing with a debutant juvenile. The owner has invested at the sales over the summer so it is nice get that early winner for him."
Doug Watson dominated the 2000m handicap, saddling a 1-2 with Pat Cosgrave, in the silks of Elbashir Salem Elhrari, winning comfortably aboard Al Nayyir, previously a maiden after three starts, from stablemate Karnavaal.
The latter was staying on but was never going to catch Cosgrave's mount who raced once for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby before an excellent fourth, on the Meydan turf, on his debut for current connections. A 4yo Dubawi gelding, he then disappointed over 1950m at Jebel Ali but was always travelling well on this occasion.
Cosgrave said: "I was told to ride him patiently and take my time on him and he has done that nicely. There should be mote to come from him."
A 1400m maiden proved a red letter occasion for rookie trainer Osama Refai who saddled his first ever winner, with just his third runner, Antonio Fresu delivering the victory aboard local debutant Road Bloc to land the spoils for owners Sayed Hashish & Mrs Hana Refai.
They were chased home by Hashish's Colour Up to give the owner a memorable moment with his silks filling the first two berths.
A 4yo gelded son of Street Sense, Road Bloc was having just his second career start having been well beaten on his only previous appearance, on turf, in the USA in July 2021.
Upper Class routed his seven opponents in the concluding 1200m handicap, providing jockey Jose da Silva a first UAE winner, riding for Antonio Cintra and owners Stud Guara Del Sur.
