Ed Marnane
The Arabian Triple Crown (Leg 3) headlines the final meeting of the Abu Dhabi season on Thursday, in which the exciting French-bred Joe Star is fancied to see off his nine rivals and defend his unbeaten record since arriving in the Emirates.
Trained by Helal Alalawi-trained, he had to defy a hefty bump turning for home before powering clear in the closing stages to beat Rb Stryngs Attached and Rb Kingmaker in the second leg four weeks ago.
Joe Star, who has to carry a 1 kg penalty for that success, has the services of Tadhg O’Shea, the UAE champion and season’s leading rider at Abu Dhabi. The Irish native again rides the four-year-old. Joe Star, owned by National Stables, is a strong stayer and will relish stepping up in distance to 2400m.
Rb Kingmaker, Joe Star’s stable companion, will need to raise his game to reverse form, despite being better off at the weights. Impressive winner of Round 1 of the three-race series, in early February, it’s clearly a worry he was reported to have hung right throughout the race last time.
Well-bred Rb Stryngs Attached, a brother to two-time Group 1 winner Rb Rich Lyke, has been campaigned exclusively at Abu Dhabi, winning a maiden in impressive fashion on his second start after shaping with plenty of promise on his debut in January.
The Fawzi Nass-trained colt endured a tough trip in Round 2 under regular rider Adrie de Vries, suffering interference at halfway but he showed a likeable attitude and kept on well to finish second. Having only had three starts in his career, he is open to improvement and looks the main threat to Joe Star.
As the season draws to a close in the UAE before the campaign ends at Al Ain next week, Doug Watson is in command at the top of the trainers’ table with 39 winners, two clear of Bhupat Seemar, last season’s champion. Watson, fresh from winning his third Godolphin Mile with Isolate at Meydan on Saturday, saddles five in the final race, the only thoroughbred race on the card.
Stable jockey Pat Dobbs has chosen to ride One Idea in the mile handicap that has attracted a full field of 16. Winner at Jebel Ali earlier in the season, he has run well switching to turf and wasn’t beaten far in a couple of competitive handicaps at Meydan. He has the benefit of a good draw and should go well.
On Saturday Seemar was narrowly denied victory in the Group 1 Golden Shaheen when his stable star Switzerland failed to catch Sibelius, going down by a nose in a thrilling finish, a heart-breaking loss for Zabeel Stables.
It’s hard to fancy any of Seemar’s five runners as they are struggling for form and look out of sorts. Stable jockey O’Shea rides Private Signal and the son of Sea The Stars was tailed off two weeks ago, trailing in 48 lengths behind his stable companion Webinar.
Delorean, trained by Ahmad bin Harmash, caught the eye on his UAE debut at Meydan last month. He kept on nicely in the closing stages to finish three lengths behind Abshrek, leaving the impression he would be sharper for the run on his first appearance for 133 days.
He has been given no favours with No 15 draw but will be suited stepping up in distance and is the type to improve on just the eighth run of his career. He can go well.
Dane O’Neill-ridden Danyah caused a massive shock in Saturday’s Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint, narrowly prevailing in a bunch finish for Shadwell and trainer Musabbeh Al Mheiri. Shadwell will be looking to end the season on a winning note and Bawaasil, Mayaadeen and Mudaarab will carry the famous blue silks.
The last-named, the mount of Adrie de Vries, makes most appeal for rookie trainer Ali Al Badwawi, who enjoyed a dream start to his training career at Abu Dhabi when his first ever runner Taamol won in November.
Mudaarab, winless since February 2020, wasn’t beaten far in a 16-runner handicap at Abu Dhabi earlier in the month and has been in good form all season, especially on turf. The step back to a mile from 2400m isn’t ideal, as he may lack the pace on a track that emphasises speed around the tight turns of Abu Dhabi. That said, he is drawn to save ground and is in good heart, unlike many of his rivals.
It’s hard to ignore the claims of Chosen Mark and Harvest Gold. The latter, who is making his Abu Dhabi debut, has been knocking on the door all season and would be a deserving winner for trainer Elise Jeanne. He deserves a change of luck and is a major player jumping from stall No 2.
Chosen Mark, trained by Ahmed Al Shemaili, has enjoyed a productive campaign, winning twice at Jebel Ali. He’s equally effective on turf and was a close third behind Ra’ad at Meydan on his most recent appearance.
Law Of Nature, a winner at Meydan in mid-February, comes off a short break and completes the shortlist. He’s relatively unexposed on turf and hails from an in-form yard that enjoyed Group 1 success at Meydan five days ago.
BEST BET
Race 5 No 1 Joe Star
VALUE BET
Race 6 No 3 Delorean
BEST SWINGER
Race 5 1-Joe Star 4-Rb Stryngs Attached
JACKPOT
(Races 3-6)
R48
Leg 1: 3, 5, 8, 10
Leg 2: 7, 8, 9, 10
Leg 3: 1
Leg 4: 2, 3, 7, 15