Af Rami stands out in Abu Dhabi

Ed Marnane

South African trainer Ernst Oertel and UAE champion jockey Tadhg O’Shea have been a potent force when linking up at Abu Dhabi this season, the pair team up in four of the six races at the track on Thursday, the penultimate fixture of the season in the capital.

The best chance for a winner for Oertel and O’Shea is the once-raced French-bred Af Rami in Race 2, the 1400m maiden, a contest that has attracted a maximum field of 14. Owned and bred by Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda, Af Rami began his career in a maiden on dirt at Meydan in early January and kept on well in the closing stages to finish third behind Al Khaleejy, despite showing clear signs of greenness having been slowly away. He’s entitled to improve for the experience and the switch to turf isn’t a concern.

Former UAE champion Richard Mullen has been booked to ride As Shamoos, a local-bred Arabian who is dropping in grade after contesting the Emirates Fillies Classic at Abu Dhabi last month.

Trained by Qaiss Aboud, she made late headway from midfield to run third behind 92-rated Almotajalliah on just her second career start. She is getting lumps of weight from Af Rami and should go well in a race that won’t take much winning.

Racing kicks off with a 2200m maiden and O’Shea is a noteworthy booking for Idylik El Alhem, trained by Helal Alalawi. Owned by National Stables, who enjoyed major success with the exciting Joe Star in the Arabian Triple Crown seven days ago, Idylik El Alhem extended his record to 0-13 when fourth over the same course and distance last month.

He’s been a frustrating horse for connections, but this looks a good opportunity to finally make the breakthrough.

French-bred Beau Du Soleil is an interesting runner on his UAE debut in the silks of Byerley Racing. Formerly trained in France by Thomas Fourcy, he made a promising debut in a decent race at Vichy when chasing home Jawed I. The winner gave the form a boost next time when creditable third in Group 3 company.

Beau Du Soleil’s fitness is a query, as the colt is returning form a lengthy break and is stepping up in distance from 1400m to 2200m.

Of the others, Rajel Al Cham makes most appeal under Ray Dawson, a rider enjoying a fine season in the Emirates this winter. He failed to make an impact on his local debut in the Abu Dhabi Championship (Listed), before twice running well in maiden company, both at Al Ain.

Rated 81, he has the advantage of a low draw, a bonus over 2200m round the tight bends of Abu Dhabi.

Race 3, the 1400m handicap for UAE-bred Arabians, is a competitive contest and plenty look to hold sound claims. Unexposed Hazem Al Wathba, the mount of Ray Dawson, gets the vote on his handicap debut. He has progressed with racing since beating just two home in an eight-runner maiden at Al Ain on his racecourse debut, finishing second in two maidens at Abu Dhabi earlier in the season.

He doesn’t look badly handicapped off 64 and with the benefit of a low draw, he can open his account at the third time of asking.

It’s hard to rule out Es Nahaam and Af Al Sanaa, the pair come in good form and are proven under the conditions.

Race 6, the sole thoroughbred race on the card, rounds off the card and is a decent handicap, with the 95-rated El Patriota heading the weights. Back under the care of Antonio Cintra, he needs to back after beaten a long way in a competitive handicap at Meydan. Bred in Uruguay, he has produced his best form in the UAE at Abu Dhabi, most notably when second in last season’s Abu Dhabi Championship.

Consistent and reliable Perfect Love, Cintra’s second runner, looks the yard’s main hope with Jose da Silva booked. He has been knocking on the door all season and hasn’t run a poor race yet.

He ran well when third behind Taamol here on his seasonal debut, a race that worked out well. Perfect Love holds obvious claims, despite being handed the widest draw in stall No 14.

Silent Defence, a recent winner over the course and distance, leads Rashed Bouresly’s two-pronged challenge. The son of National Defense is the only three-year-old in the field and is vulnerable stepping up in grade off his revised mark and makes no appeal from a double-digit stall.

Stable companion Abshrek is ideally berthed in stall No 1 to replicate his front-running tactics when scoring at Meydan last month. The lightly raced six-year-old is a player if transferring that form to Abu Dhabi, a venue at which he has not raced.

Doug Watson has few runners at Abu Dhabi but earlier in the campaign sent out San Donato to win the National Day Cup (Listed). Riding arrangements suggest Jumaira Bay, the mount of stable jockey Pat Dobbs, is the pick of Red Stables’ three-strong team.

He showed improved form behind Al Salt last time on his Abu Dhabi debut, taking a big step forward on earlier form. If he can improve on that effort, he should mount a bold bid.

Shadwell, who landed Saturday’s Group 1 Jebel Hatta with Alfareeq at Meydan, have three runners and Dane O’Neill, Shadwell’s retained rider in the Emirates, has chosen to ride Laasudood on his UAE debut for Bhupat Seemar. Formerly trained by Richard Hannon, he won at Doncaster last June off 87 before twice finishing down the field in competitive handicaps at Newmarket and Goodwood.

Laasudood, out of Breeders’ Cup Filly And Mare Turf winner Lahudood, is a beautifully bred gelding and is an exciting recruit for Zabeel Stables. He’s very unexposed and if ready to strike after his eight-month break, he clearly merits respect.

In a wide-open looking contest, Nibras Passion is another for the shortlist. He has the services of O’Shea, is proven at Abu Dhabi and arrives in top form, having run well in his last three runs, the most recent when beaten a length at Meydan.

BEST BET

Race 2 No 1 Af Rami

VALUE BET

Race 1 No 8 Beau Du Soleil

BEST SWINGER

Race 3 2-Es Nahaam and 13-Hazem Al Wathba

JACKPOT

(Races 3 to 6)

R48

Leg 1: 2, 3, 6, 13

Leg 2: 3, 6

Leg 3: 2, 4, 7

Leg 4: 5, 10