Costa and Coen to score in Abu Dhabi

Ed Marnane

Racing returns to Abu Dhabi on Thursday for a competitive seven-race card, headlined by 0-90 handicap over a mile for thoroughbreds, Race 3.

The race, worth AED 80,000 (R420,000), has attracted a full field of 14 and many of the top stables are represented.

Jebel Ali-based Michael Costa, the season’s top trainer, launches a three-pronged assault and Molaqab, the choice of stable jockey Ben Coen, looks the pick of Costa’s team and holds sound claims in a race that looks wide-open. By top Australian sire Zoustar, he ran well when second behind Changing Colours in a 15-runner handicap at Meydan two starts back, enjoying the switch to turf having never threatened at Jebel Ali on his local debut.

Last time Molaqab failed to make an impression behind McManaman, albeit he endured a troubled passage and had a difficult trip in the event. The draw has been kind for Molaqab and this looks a good opportunity to open his UAE tally.

Costa has booked apprentice Qais Al Busaidi to ride Kaatibb, a recent winner (made all) at Jebel Ali. The Siyouni gelding, 0-6 on turf, is drawn in stall six should be able to set the pace. A lightly raced colt having only his 11^th start, he remains open to further improvement, and can’t be overlooked switching to turf.

Simon & Ed Crisford have enjoyed a terrific season, highlighted by the progressive Swing Vote’s impressive victory in the Group 3 Jebel Ali Mile. The quirky but talented Laser Guided represents the pair and is one to consider on his Abu Dhabi debut. The son of Kingman, who has often proved troublesome in the stalls, comes here on the back of a solid run behind Ouzo in a highly competitive 2000m handicap at Meydan. He travelled strongly until fading in the closing stages, leaving the impression he would be suited running over a shorter trip.

Doug Watson has his horses in top form and Waness, owned by Shadwell, makes the shortlist, especially stepping back in distance. He was badly hampered in a competitive 12-runner handicap at Meydan, when finishing less than nine lengths behind the winner Intricacy. Waness had previously caught the eye behind Royal Dubai, his best run for Watson since leaving Charles Hills.

Jumaira Bay, Watson’s second runner, isn’t without a chance. Off a 344 day break, he kept on nicely from the rear to finish fourth behind stablemate McManaman at Meydan, a career-best in the UAE having been struggling for form since arriving at Red Stables. Now seven, he’s a fragile horse and this is only his eighth lifetime start. If he can build on the promise of his belated comeback, he should be in the mix.

Racing gets underway with a 1600m maiden, for fillies and mares bred in the UAE and it’s a modest event, typical for the grade. Six of the 14 Arabians are making their debut, while those that have run haven’t shown a great deal.

Brazilian jockey Bernardo Pinheiro is enjoying a fine season and is third in the championship having ridden 27 winners. He is an eye-catching booking for the Saif Almarar-trained Wateen Baynounah, replacing apprentice Qais Al Busaidi. The daughter of Big Easy showed minor promise on her debut at Al Ain, keeping on nicely from the rear despite a wide trip. She’s open to plenty of improvement and gets a tentative vote.

In UAE-bred Arabian maidens, Ernst Oertel’s runner always merit respect and the South African trainer is represented by the once-raced Af Sahaba. Owned by Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda, Oertel’s biggest patron, she was well fancied on her racecourse at Meydan earlier in the season but never fired, finishing nearly 28 lengths behind the winner, having been wide and hung right.

She had shown promise in a barrier trial at Jebel Ali in October and it would be no surprise if she left her Meydan running well behind in a race that won’t take much winning.    

Oertel and O’Shea combine with Af Alarqaa in the third maiden on the card, the final event. Beaten a short-head in the Abu Dhabi Classic five weeks ago, his sole run on turf, Af Alarqaa makes a quick return to action, five days after finishing creditable fourth at Al Ain. One of four runners representing Oertel in the 1600m event, he sets the standard and this appears a golden opportunity to shed his maiden tag at the seventh attempt. Oertel, who made a poor start to the season, has his horses in better form now and saddled two winners at Abu Dhabi’s latest fixture, seven days ago.

Earlier on the card, Abu Dhabi-based trainer Dennis O’Brien can win the opening Arabian handicap, Race 2, with the lightly-raced Al Etihad, the mount of Richard Mullen. He improved switching to handicap company, easily winning here seven days under Andrew Slattery. Now nine pounds higher off a mark of 70, he has more to offer on just his fifth start and can follow up.

In-form Oscar Chavez, attached to Doug Watson’s Red Stables, enjoyed an unforgettable afternoon at Al Ain on Saturday, with a sensational four-timer. He is booked to ride the consistent Shamakh, trained by French native Jean-Claude Pecout, in the 2200m Arabian handicap, race 6. The French-bred seven-year-old has run with credit in defeat in two outings this season, the most recent when a good third at Al Ain. A winner over the course and distance in November 2022, he makes plenty of appeal in a competitive race.

Veteran No And No Al Maury heads the list of dangers for the Oertel/O’Shea partnership. He wasn’t beaten far here last month, a step up on what he has shown all season having been bang out of sorts.

Lightly raced Singsong Al Maury, a recent winner at Abu Dhabi, is open to improvement on his handicap debut and has the assistance of Connor Beasley, the season’s leading rider.

SELECTIONS

Race 1

8 WATEEN BAYNOUNAH 9 AF SAHABA 11 JAP KHAPAYA 10 ES HAILA

Race 2

1 AL ETIHAD 11 ES SHADI 6 AF MUTAALEQ 9 MAIMOUN RS

Race 3

10 LASER GUIDED 2 WANEES 6 MOLAQAB 4 JUMAIRIA BAY

Race 4

10 MUNIR 1 DAAD 2 JAP ALREET 5 HAZEM AL WATHBA

Race 5

11 RB KINGS RANSOM 6 UDAAY 7 AF ALSAREM 3 EDWIN

Race 6

6 SHAMAKH 11 SINGASONG AL MAURY 9 RB KINGS BAY 8 NO AND NO AL MAURY

Race 7

8 AF ALARQAA 13 NAJM BAYNOUNAH 12 MEDMAY 5 JR PATRIOT

Best Bet: 8 Wateen Baynounah [Race 1]

Best Value: 10 Laser Guided [Race 3]

Best Swinger: 6 Shamakh and 11 Singasong Al Maury [Race 6]

JACKPOT

[Races 4-7]

R48

Leg 1: 1, 2, 5, 10

Leg 2: 6, 11

Leg 3: 6, 9, 11

Leg 4: 7, 8, 13