Alalawi chases Grade 1 double in Abu Dhabi

Ed Marnane

Helal Alalawi, who won the $1.5m (R27m) Al Mneefah Cup with stable star Rb Kingmaker, the Group 1 Arabian showpiece on turf, on Saudi Cup weekend last month, is chasing further Group 1 glory in the Emirates Championship at the Abu Dhabi Turf Club on Saturday.

This year’s Emirates Championship is a cracking contest, eight of the 14 runners are rated above 110 and it is the highlight of an excellent seven race card. Alalawi holds a big hand in the 2200m race with Hm Alchahine and Joe Star, both owned by National Stables.

Adrie de Vries, who made a welcome return to the saddle last week after a spell on the sidelines, rides Hm Alchahine and the French-bred five-year-old returns to the UAE having finished a creditable second behind Al Ghadeer in Qatar four weeks ago. The Al Shaqab-owned winner, a multiple Group 1 winner in Middle East and Europe, is the dominant Arabian on the planet.

Hm Alchahine is unbeaten at the Abu Dhabi Turf Club and bids for a seventh victory at the track. He holds strong claims despite a potential awkward draw, jumping from stall No 14.

Joe Star, a two-time winner at the track, ran well when third behind Rb Kingmaker in Listed company, over the same course and distance, a trial for the Abu Dhabi Gold, two months ago. He has disappointed twice since and will need to rediscover his best form to play a leading role.

First Classs, trained by Doug Watson, bounced back to his best when causing a minor surprise in the inaugural running of the Abu Dhabi Gold Cup, over the same course and distance, last month.

It was a welcome Group 1 victory for Watson and the US-bred gelding snapped a long losing spell, stretching back to December 2022. First Classs has a smart record at the Abu Dhabi Turf Club, winning twice at Group 1 level and makes plenty of appeal.

Of the rest, Ajrad Athbah and Hameem and could reward each-way support at decent odds, with marginal preference for the last-named, the mount of the excellent Danny Tudhope. He chased home First Classs in the Abu Dhabi Gold Cup and is a course specialist, winning nine times at the track.

South African trainer Ernst Oertel and O’Shea combine with Af Alajra’ in Race 3, the Emirates Colt Classic, a local-bred Arabian race the pair won with Af Alarqaa 12 months ago.

Owned and bred by Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda, Af Alajra’ has improved steadily with racing and opened his account at Jebel Ali, showing a determined attitude to see off the challenge of Af Yakwy and 14 others.

Next time, he lost little in defeat when second behind Jap Abeya in the Abu Dhabi Colts Classic. The pair renews rivalry and Oertel’s lightly raced colt is fancied to get his revenge and give connections back-to-back wins in the race.

Sandro Paiva steered Howzan Baynounah to victory in the Emirates Fillies Classic 12 months ago and has excellent prospects of winning the prize, once again, with Nasaim Baynounah.

The UAE-bred filly, the only winner in the field, is well clear on the ratings and will be hard to beat on the third run of her career.

She caught the eye on her racecourse debut in a maiden, over the same course and distance, finding plenty for pressure to edge out Al Faed in a close finish.

She arguably stepped up on that form next time, just failing to reel in Af Saqara in the Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic.

Irish rider Ray Dawson continues to impress and he enjoyed an unforgettable afternoon at Jebel Ali on Sunday, winning the Jebel Ali Stakes (Listed) on Saayedd, the highlight of his five winners at the Dubai track.

He has a full book of rides, two trained by his main employer, the in-form Michael Costa. In the final race, the 1600m maiden, Dawson and Costa team up with the unexposed Elzaami, owned by Sheikh Ahmad Al Maktoum.

The US-bred gelding has run well in all three starts, the most recent when narrowly beaten at Jebel Ali last month. He will be hard to beat on his first run on grass.

In an open-looking contest, Al Pastor, Chef De Partie and Inner Wisdom head the list of dangers, as the trio all arrive in good form.

The last-named, trained by Musabbeh Al Mheiri, has the services of Silvestre De Sousa who continues to bang in the winners and has emerged a big threat to Tadhg O’Shea’s pursuit of a 13^th UAE Jockey’s Championship.

Inner Wisdom switches to turf after a series of solid efforts on dirt, the latest behind the highly progressive Classic City at Meydan eight days ago. He should go well.

Thirty minutes earlier, a field of 14 will line up in Race 6 1200m handicap. Matloob, trained by Michael Costa, is the horse to beat.

By Dark Angel, Matloob is lightly raced and has improved since switched to turf, finishing second in competitive handicaps in his last two starts, both at Meydan.

This looks a fine opportunity to open his UAE account and record his first success since winning a minor event at Wolverhampton in June 2023 for Roger Varian.

It’s hard to ignore the claims of Chosen Mark, a recent winner at the track, and the consistent Al Munz, along with Border Edge who is unexposed on grass and represents Bhupat Seemar.

Best Bet: 5 Hm Alchahine [Race 5]

Best Value: 8 Mh Layaly [Race 2]

Best Swinger: 3 Matloob and 4 Jumaira Bay [Race 6]

JACKPOT

[Races 4-7]

R64

Leg 1: 1, 5, 6, 9

Leg 2: 5

Leg 3: 3, 4, 8, 10

Leg 4: 1, 3, 5, 10