Ed Marnane
Namrood returns to Abu Dhabi on Thursday chasing back-to-back wins in the Al Ruwais Stakes, the highlight of the opening fixture of 2024 at the UAE track. The Group 3 event, run over 1200m, is a strong renewal with 12 of the 14 Arabians declared rated above 100.
Trained by Musabbeh Al Mheiri, Namrood has been bang out of form the season, showing little in two outings this season. Last time out, he dropped away tamely when finishing last of 16 behind RB Rich Lyke Me in Round I of the Al Maktoum Challenge, Group 1.
Top French rider Christian Demuro continues his association with the French-bred Jazeelah, Al Mheiri’s second runner. The daughter of Majd Al Arab was progressive last season, winning two of her four races. She began the season with bang, winning a minor event at Abu Dhabi when showing a determined attitude to prevail in a close finish.
She struggled to make an impression when switched to dirt next time, trailing in eighth in the aforementioned Round I of the Al Maktoum Challenge. She’s fancied to return to her best over a track she has won one of her two starts.
South African trainer Ernst Oertel has had a quiet season with his team of Arabians and has only sent out three winners, and is operating at a modest strike-rate of 3.5%. He runs AF Alajaj and AF Majalis, with preference for the former, the mount of Tadhg O’Shea and the highest rated runner in the field. Winner of seven of his 16 races, he has a decent record at Abu Dhabi and its easy forgive his last run when running poorly in the Group 2 Bani Yas on the dirt at Meydan, having been found to be mildly lame after the race.
The pick of the undercard is the HH The President Cup Prep, a Listed event over 2200m. In a decent race for the grade, Joe Star can follow up his recent win in the UAE Arabian Derby for Helal Alalawi, one of four runners for the Emirati trainer. Winner of five of his nine races, he impressed when beating RB Stryngs Attached and nine others and will be hard to beat.
The runner-up, trained by Fawzi Nass, renews rivalry and is having his third run of the campaign. The US-bred RB Stryngs Attached has never run a poor race at Abu Dhabi in five previous appearances, and despite a poor draw (14), he won’t be far away.
Joe Star’s stable companion, RB Kingmaker, will appreciate stepping down in grade, having finished a creditable sixth in the Group 1 Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown, the world’s richest race for Arabians. RB Kingmaker, to be ridden by Christian Demuro, has a potential awkward draw to overcome but can’t be overlooked.
Race 6, the Abu Dhabi Championship, for four-year-old Arabians, has drawn a field of 13 and Helal Alalawi’s unbeaten HM Alchahine sets the standard and is hard to oppose. He confirmed the promise of his win in a barrier trial at Al Ain when impressing on his racecourse debut at Abu Dhabi two months ago. He stepped up on that form when winning a minor event next time, coming well clear and scoring with plenty in hand. He’s an exciting colt and can maintain his upward profile.
A full field of 16 go to post for the 1600m maiden, the only thoroughbred race on the programme, Race 7. On ratings, the Nasir Asker-owned Mount Tambora merits respect on his UAE debut for Musabbeh Al Mheiri. Formerly trained in France by Andre Fabre, he was useful performer and twice filled the runner-up berth in two starts at Chantilly last year.
If he can transfer that form to the Middle East, he’s sure to go well under Christian Demuro.
Riding arrangements suggest the unexposed Arabian Tale, the choice of Tadhg O’Shea, is the pick of the Bhupat Seemar-trained pair. He made an encouraging comeback behind stable companion Nevershow Weakness for the former champion trainer at Meydan last month, his first start for 667 days. He holds obvious appeals if building on that promise switching to turf.
Seemar has booked former Irish champion apprentice Andrew Slattery to ride the longstanding maiden Mezzotinto, who is hoping to get off the mark at the 20th attempt.
He produced a respectable effort behind Mr Kafoo in a 1200m maiden at Meydan six days ago, failing to land a telling blow over a trip well short of his optimum distance, while a tardy break compromised his chance. He will enjoy the step up to a mile and is nicely drawn in stall five.
Best Bet: 2 Joe Star [Race 3]
Best Value: 11 Mount Tambora [Race 7]
Best Swinger: 13 Jazeelah and 6 Ashton Tourettes [Race 2]
Jackpot
[Races 4-7]
R36
Leg 1: 8, 9, 14, 15
Leg 2: 3, 7, 9
Leg 3: 4
Leg 4: 3, 10, 11