Ed Marnane
Since creating a big impression on his racecourse debut earlier in the season, the French-bred Rasasi has emerged an exciting young talent in the Arabian ranks and is now undefeated in four runs, earning a lofty rating of 105 for a four-year-old, for local trainer Ahmed Al Mehairbi.
Rasasi, the mount of regular rider Ben Coen, faces 12 rivals in Sunday’s Arabian Triple Crown R2 at the Abu Dhabi Turf Club, the Group 3 highlight of the bumper eight-race card.
From the family of champion Madjani, a multiple Group 1 winner and the only Arabian to win three Dubai Kahayla Classics, Rasasi is a confident selection to continue his perfect start to his career and post his fifth win in the Capital.
Ray Dawson, fresh from winning Friday’s Group 3 feature, the Ras Al Khor, aboard Marbaan at Meydan, rides the maiden Mouzaffar de Monlau, now under the care of top local Arabian trainer Helal Alalawi.
He was highly tried in France last year, contesting group races in four of his five runs for Olivier Trigodet. Sent to race in the Middle East at the end of last year, he was third in the Qatar Derby in December before joining Alalawi in the UAE.
That was a solid run and a reproduction of that form and he should be in the mix.
Three weeks ago, Aloraiq and Al Faith chased home Rasasi in the opening leg of the Arabian Triple Crown. The pair renews rivalry with Ahmed Al Mehairbi’s stable star and on identical terms, it is hard to see the form being reversed.
Aloraiq and Al Faith will have to battle it out for minor honours.
Race 7, the 2400m handicap, has attracted a maximum field of 16, the opening race for thoroughbreds. The Bhupat Seemar’s lightly raced Fayadh enjoyed the step up in trip when a good third behind Alsayef, running on strongly in the closing stages to finish three lengths behind the Michael-Costa trained winner at Jebel Ali.
Fayadh will improve going up to 2400m and if transferring that form to turf, he has sound claims of opening his account at the eighth time of asking on his Abu Dhabi Turf Club debut.
Fawzi Nass has endured a disappointing campaign, No Retreat’s victory at Meydan his only winner from 45 runners. The Bahrain trainer will be looking to end the season among the winners and has booked Pat Cosgrave to ride the consistent Tactical Bound, a ten-race maiden who makes his turf debut on his sixth run of the season.
Tactical Bound, placed in three of his five starts this winter, has sound claims of finally making the breakthrough. He is open to improvement going up to 2400m for the first time of his career.
In a race not that not many really appeal, Venetian Style merits respect back at the Abu Dhabi Turf Club, a venue he caused a big shock when winning a 2400m handicap two starts back. He’s proven over the trip and wasn’t disgraced in competitive 16-runner handicap at Meydan last month.
He is very unexposed on turf and doesn’t look badly handicapped.
Racing concludes with a 1200m maiden for thoroughbreds, Race 8. Bhupat Seemar’s Symbolic Gesture, the oldest horse in the field, made a decent start on his belated debut when sixth at Jebel Ali. He’s entitled to be sharper for the run and it looks highly significant connections have persevered with the gelding, the son of New Approach who turned seven in January.
Al Pastor, representing Ahmad bin Harmash, has been knocking on the door all season, most recently finishing a close third behind Eruptive in a handicap, over the track. He should go well from a yard that remains in good form and has the services of Connor Beasley, who has ridden 11 winners at the course this season.
Riding arrangements suggest the unraced Manshod is the pick of the Michael Costa runners, ahead of Menhaad, under Ray Dawson. By Dubai World Cup winner Animal Kingdom, he impressed winning a barrier trial, in Cambridge, New Zealand, in August 2022.
He travelled strongly and caught the eye the manner he quickened clear to score by a comfortable six lengths.
Richard Mullen rides the once-raced Menhaad, not seen since finishing a creditable third behind stable companion Yotarid at Jebel Ali’s opening fixture of the season in early November.
The winner gave the form a major boost, winning his next two races and is now rated 95. Menhaad is open to plenty of improvement and can’t be overlooked.
Best Bet: 5 Es Shadi [Race 1]
Best Value: 5 Manshod [Race 8]
Best Swinger: 2 Tactical Bound and 4 Fayadh [Race 7]
JACKPOT
(Races 5-8)
R48
Leg 1: 10
Leg 2: 2, 3, 9, 10
Leg 3: 2, 4, 5
Leg 4: 1, 4, 5, 9