Ed Marnane
The President Cup, the world’s richest race for Arabians, takes centre stage on Abu Dhabi Turf Club’s flagship meeting of the season on Sunday.
The race, over 2200m and worth a jaw-dropping AED 8m (R39m), has as attracted an exciting field of 14, with the smart French trained Abbes back in the Middle East seeking another Group 1 prize in the UAE for his Qatar owners Wathnan Racing, the emerging powerhouse in world racing.
Trained in Qatar by Alban de Mieulle, who is no stranger to big-race success in the Emirates, Abbes is a top-class Arabian on the world stage and has enjoyed Group 1 success in France, UAE and Qatar.
Abbes will be ridden by James Doyle, Wathnan Racing’s retained rider, on his return from a four-month break. The British rider rode Abbes when the French-bred entire finished a good second to Nour Al Maury in the Doha Cup, the Group 1 Arabian showpiece of Deauville’s August Festival. He makes plenty of appeal and should go close, despite a tricky draw (No 13).
Saudi Arabian champion Asfan Al Khalediah, winner of 15 of his 16 races, is the highest ranked Arabian in the field and arrives in Abu Dhabi on the back of an impressive victory in Riyadh.
His sole defeat came in the UAE earlier in the year in the Dubai Kahayla Classic when third behind stable companion Tilal Al Khalediah. Rated 128, he is unbeaten on turf and will take plenty of beating.
Last season’s winner Rb Kingmaker, trained by Helal Alalawi, is the pick of the local trained Arabians on his seasonal debut under regular rider Richard Mullen.
Alalawi’s stable star was campaigned in Europe in the summer and has been off the track since chasing home the mighty Al Ghadeer in the Qatar Arabian World Cup, the Group 1 showpiece on Arc day at Longchamp two months ago. Winner of four of his seven starts at the Abu Dhabi Turf Club, he commands plenty of respect.
On a brilliant night of racing, the pick of the undercard is the President Cup, for thoroughbreds, which carries Listed status and was won by Nibras Passion last season. Make Me King, a Group 3 winner at Deauville in August, under a 1 kg penalty represents Wathnan Racing and has made the trip from Qatar.
Trained by Hamad Al Jehani, he sets the standard and will appreciate being back on sound surface, having got bogged down on testing ground behind Ramadan in the Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein, Group 2.
He’s ideally berthed in stall No 3 and should enjoy a ground-saving trip in the hands of James Doyle.
Bhupat Seemar, fresh from a double at Meydan on Friday, is three-handed with Blue Trail, Laneqash and Western Writer, the 2023 President Cup winner. Of the trio, Laneqash, one of two runners for Shadwell, makes most appeal under Jim Crowley who steered Muntazah to victory in the 2018 renewal for Doug Watson.
Laneqash had Western Writer well behind when fourth behind Daramathos in the National Day Cup last month, a solid comeback off a 260-day break.
Mountbatten hails from an in-form stable and has the assistance of Danny Tudhope, the season’s leading rider and is one to consider at decent odds.
He impressed when winning a handicap, over the course and distance in late October, defeating Kal Barq and seven others in a good time.
Wathnan Racing has swooped to buy the exciting Arabian Lippo De Carrere, impressive winner of a maiden at the Abu Dhabi Turf Club on his debut four weeks ago.
He’s open to plenty of improvement and holds strong claims in the Al Wathba Mile, Race 5. In an open race, the Jean-Claude Pecout-trained Jallaab merits respect on his UAE debut, having shown a decent level of ability in France and is rated 95.
Of the rest, a solid case can be made for the well-bred Rasasi under Ben Coen. From the immediate family of multiple Group 1 winner Madjani, he was a comfortable winner of a 1600m maiden at the track on his first start in public last month. He has more to offer and is proven under the conditions.
Race 5, the Arabian Derby, looks a good opportunity for the progressive and exciting Hm Alchahine to continue his rise up the ranks in the 2200m contest.
Trained by Helal Alalawi, he was never out of second gear when winning a minor event, over the same course and distance, last month. Now unbeaten in five runs, he will be tough to beat.
Mulfit, trained in France by Francois Rohaut, is the chief threat on his local debut. Owned by Wathnan Racing, he can boast Group 1 form in Europe and his trainer has enjoyed success in the Emirates.
SELECTIONS
Race 1
1 AF KAHAYLAN 11 RB HEADS-UP 10 RASIKH AL WATHAB 2 AF MATHAKEEL
Race 2
1 RB MONEY MAKER 6 MAAHIR 7 MUNIR DU SOLEIL 9 ONLY SMOKE
Race 3
2 JALLAAB 3 LIPPO DE CARERRE 6 RASASI 9 ZEPHYR
Race 4
4 AL LAITH 1 AF GHAYYAR 13 YAS XMNSOR 16 RAWAAT AL REEF
Race 5
1 HM ALCHAHINE 3 MOLFIT 10 DIYAAH 7 SINGASONG AL MAURY
Race 6
1 MAKE ME KING 6 LANEQASH 7 MARBAAN 8 MOUNTBATTEN;
Race 7
3 ASFAN AL KHALEDIAH 1 ABBES 12 RB KINGMAKER 8 FIRST CLASSS
Best Bet: 2 Jallaab [Race 3]
Best Value: 8 First Classs [Race 6]
Best Swinger: 1 Make Me King and 6 Laneqash [Race 6]
JACKPOT
(Races 4-7)
R24
Leg 1: 4
Leg 2: 1, 3
Leg 3: 1, 6, 7, 8
Leg 4: 1, 3, 12