Ed Marnane
Abu Dhabi stages a competitive six-race card on Thursday and champion jockey Tadhg O’Shea, the top rider at Abu Dhabi, has a full book of rides.
The action gets underway with a 2200m handicap, one of five races on the programme for Arabians, where O’Shea rides AF Ramaz for South African trainer Ernst Oertel.
Bred in France, he progressed nicely last season, winning his final two appearances and is fancied to start his campaign with a bang on his first outing in eight months.
Al Mahbooba is an interesting runner on his UAE debut for new-trainer-in-town Doug Watson. Formerly trained in the UK, he was a consistent performer and must enter calculations, despite an awkward draw in stall No 12.
He impressed on his final appearance at Wolverhampton before joining Red Stables in Dubai, bolting up by 16 lengths in a minor event. He doesn’t look badly treated off a mark of 77 and has the assistance of Pat Dobbs, a rider operating at an impressive 31% strike rate in the capital this season.
Pat Cosgrave, who landed a valuable prize on the opening meeting of the Bahrain Turf Series on Friday, rides the top-weight Qased Sb. The unexposed colt ran well behind Salb at Al Ain, showing improved form on the back of a respectable effort on his seasonal debut.
He’s one to consider if finding further improvement in the colours of Naser Askar.
Al Hazeez, a winner over the course and distance seven days ago, makes a quick reappearance and completes the shortlist.
He showed a sharp turn of foot to catch M’a Yaromoon in the dying strides, leaving the impression he was value for the narrow victory.
Race 2, the opening 1400m maiden for local-bred Arabians, has attracted a full field of 14, with nine making their first appearance in public. Ray Dawson, fresh from winning the Listed Garhoud Sprint aboard Mouheeb at Meydan on Friday, continues his association with Hazem Al Wathba.
He took a step forward on his Abu Dhabi debut last week, making late headway when second to Shugga’A Baynounah, a performance that can be upgraded having got bumped at the start.
Dobbs is an eye-catching booking for the unraced Hatem Al Wathba for Abu Dhabi-based Jean-Claude Pecout, a trainer who has team in good order this season.
Jabal Bittar, a leading Arabian trainer in the Emirates, has booked O’Shea to ride Al Reef Stable’s Najih. Fitted with cheekpieces on his debut, this son of Mahabb won’t need to be above average to make an impression.
The second maiden, Race 3, is a one that needs to be treated with caution. Half of the 14 runners are unraced while the seven Arabians who have raced look moderate.
Al Barq, the mount of O’Shea, looks the pick of the Helal Alalawi-trained pair. He’s one to consider and the booking of the champion jockey suggests he is fancied to strike on his racecourse debut.
Oertel and O’Shea team up with course specialist Af Majalis in Race 5, the 1600m. The six-year-old is seeking his sixth course victory and made an encouraging return last month, finishing less than three lengths behind Reem Baynounah in a 14-runner handicap.
He’s entitled to be sharper for the run and makes plenty of appeal.
Namrood, trained by Musabbeh Al Mheiri, heads the list of dangers dropping in grade after a good fourth in Group 2 company on dirt at Meydan, a solid comeback after a six-month absence.
He’s nicely drawn in stall No 2, a bonus with the rail out 6m, and has the services of in-form Antonio Fresu.
Racing closes with a 1600m handicap, the sole race on the card for thoroughbreds. Razeen Dubai, trained by Salem bin Ghadayer, bounced back to form at Meydan last month, showing improvement when ridden positively.
He tried to make all in a mile handicap on dirt, only failing to see off the late challenge of Falsehood and Tahdeed. He’s ideally berthed next to the inside rails and could be hard to peg back under Royston Ffrench in a race that doesn’t look strong.
Green Team Station, formerly trained by Watson, makes his first start for new handler Ahmed Al Shemaili. He made a pleasing comeback at Jebel Ali and if taking a step forward, he warrants respect.
An opening mark of 75 on his handicap debut looks workable based on his two runs on turf since switching to the Emirates, especially his good second to Poster Paint over the course and distance in February.
Top-weight Desert Destination extended his record to 0-9 in a first-time visor when well beaten at Jebel Ali. He can be forgiven that lacklustre effort over 1200m, a trip he found on the sharp side.
He will enjoy going back up in distance and if bouncing back to the form of his close second to Ibra Attack, he can’t be overlooked.
BEST BET
Race 6 No 4 Razeen Dubai
VALUE BET
Race 4 No 6 No Riesgo Al Maury
BEST SWINGER
Race 6 4-Razeen Dubai and 1-Desert Destination
JACKPOT
(Races 3 to 6)
R54
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3
Leg 2: 1, 3, 6
Leg 3: 2, 5, 6
Leg 4: 1, 4