Ed Marnane
Racing in the UAE returns to Abu Dhabi on Thursday for a competitive card, in which five of the six races have attracted maximum fields.
The action kicks off with a 2200m handicap and 10-time UAE Champion jockey Tadhg O’Shea rides the top-weight AF Fakhama. Runner-up in his last two starts on dirt at Sharjah, he will be suited switching to Abu Dhabi having won over the same course and distance last season and should go well.
In an open-looking race, Taajer holds leading claims in the hands of Richard Mullen. He has improved since returning from his summer break, winning at Sharjah after a pleasing comeback at the same venue.
Race 2, the 1600m handicap, has drawn a full field of 14 and lightly raced Alrazeen is an interesting runner on his local debut for rookie trainer Hemidy Alhamida. Formerly trained in France, he showed ability in three appearances, most notably at Toulouse when not beaten far in a minor event.
Fitted with first-time blinkers on his handicap debut, he merits respect if primed on his first outing in six months.
South African Ernst Oertel, the top trainer at Abu Dhabi this season, saddles AF Ghayyar who tries to follow up his recent win at Abu Dhabi last month. Winner of two of his four races on turf, he makes plenty of appeal, despite a potential awkward draw out wide in stall No 12.
Stable companion AF Kal Noor is in good heart, showing improved form when making all under a positive front-running ride from Marcelino Rodrigues over the same course and distance at Christmas. The eight-year-old Arabian is ideally berthed to attack from the front, once again.
Of the others, unexposed four-year-old JL Ed Faust makes most appeal on his first start in handicap company. Winner of an Al Ain maiden on his racecourse debut, he ran well in defeat when stepped up in class next time, running creditably in the Abu Dhabi Championship, a Listed race for three-year-olds.
An initial rating of 92 doesn’t look harsh and having only run twice, the French-bred colt is open to further improvement. He hails from a yard enjoying a solid season.
Bahrain trainer Fawzi Nass and Adrie de Vries teamed up to win Round I of the Al Maktoum Challenge at Meydan six days ago with top Arabian RB Rich Lyke Me, who smashed the track record when bolting up.
Nass introduces US-bred RB Stryngs Attached, the mount of De Vries, in the 1200m maiden, Race 5. The four-year-old colt, a brother to RB Rich Lyke Me, has the advantage of a good draw and will take plenty of beating in a race that those who have raced look very moderate.
Bshara, trained by Salem Al Ketbi, looks the answer in the 1200m handicap, Race 4. Winner of two of his five races, all at Abu Dhabi, she was only denied in a 1600m handicap eight days ago, just failing to see off the late challenge of Dareen in a driving finish.
The French-bred daughter of Majd Al Arab is a strong-travelling type and can equally prove effective stepping back to 1200m.
Rounding out the card is a 1400m handicap, the sole thoroughbred contest. Beluga Gold, trained by Ahmed Al Shemaili, will be popular on the back of his good second to Mouser at Abu Dhabi four weeks ago, a big step up on what he showed previously on dirt at Meydan and Jebel Ali. He looked happier back on turf and can shrug off a minor rise in the ratings and open his UAE account at third time of asking.
Al Shemaili has booked in-form Ray Dawson to ride Chosen Mark, a recent winner at Jebel Ali. The son of The Last Lion has had one start on grass, going down narrowly to Leadership at Abu Dhabi in March last year. It’s easy to make a case for Chosen Mark and he gives his trainer a strong hand.
Atlantic Sky, representing Musabbeh Al Mheiri, has progressed nicely with racing this season, and is an obvious candidate. His latest appearance was a solid effort when a close third behind Miqyaas in a 16-runner handicap at Jebel Ali.
He holds obvious claims if reproducing that form on his first start on turf. The switch to grass shouldn’t be an obstacle, being by Shamardal out of Local Time, a two-time Group 3 winner on turf.
BEST BET
Race 5 No 6 RB Stryngs Attached
BEST VALUE
Race 1 No 2 Mootahady
BEST SWINGER
Race 6 2 Beluga Gold and 4 Chosen Mark
JACKPOT
(Races 3 to 6)
R32
Leg 1: 2, 3, 4, 7
Leg 2: 1, 3, 5, 6
Leg 3: 6
Leg 4: 2, 4