Suny Du Loup for Abu Dhabi Prep

Ed Marnane

Racing in the UAE steps up a gear at Abu Dhabi on Friday with the running of the HH The President Cup Prep, the first Listed race for Arabians of the new season. This year’s race is a strong renewal, eight of the 13 runners are rated above 110 and Suny Du Loup, rated 118, gets the vote to follow up his recent win in a minor event at the track.

Trained by Hamad Al Marar, he overcame an awkward draw to record his third win at Abu Dhabi on his first start in seven months. The six-year-old French-bred Arabian is entitled to be sharper for the run and is the horse to beat.

Smart Arabian First Classs, a useful performer who can boast Group 1 form in Europe, returns to Doug Watson after a stint in the UK with James Owen. He made one start for the Newmarket-based handler, finishing a poor eighth in the Group 1 Qatar Arabian Wold Cup last month. He looked unhappy on the soft ground at Longchamp and trailed in a long way behind the brilliant Al Ghadeer.

First Classs will enjoy the quicker ground at Abu Dhabi and won’t lack for fitness. He warrants respect dropping in class over a track he enjoyed his biggest success when winning the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown two years ago.

Majed Al Jahoori-trained Ajrad Athbah, rated 119, has to be high on any shortlist. He made an encouraging comeback when narrowly beaten by Suny Du Loup at this track last month, staying on nicely in the closing stages. He should strip fitter for the run and holds sound claims of going one place better over a track he rarely runs a poor race.

Dubai-based South African trainer Ernst Oertel has made a bright start to the new season, saddling six winners, and his hopes rest with AF Maqam, the mount of Tadhg O’Shea.

Owned and bred by Khalifia Al Nabooda, AF Maqam is a consistent and reliable performer and has won two of his nine races at Abu Dhabi. It’s encouraging Oertel has his horses in terrific form and AF Maqam could reward each-way backers at decent odds.

Of the rest, Alarqam can’t be overlooked. He progressed nicely last time, winning a maiden on debut and ending the campaign rated 118 after just five starts. He has the assistance of former British champion Silvestre de Sousa. The Brazilian rider has made a solid start to his winter stint in the Emirates.

Race 6, the first thoroughbred race on the card, is a trappy contest and the top-weight Desert Snake gets the vote on his seasonal debut for new trainer Julio Olascoaga. A winner in France two years ago, he showed improved switching to Abu Dhabi after a poor run on dirt at Meydan on his local debut last season.

He caught the eye on his final start last season, finishing an unlucky third in a 14-runner handicap when enduring a troubled passage.

Military Option, Fawzi Nass’s first runner of the season, looks the main threat. On his final appearance last season, the US-bred colt produced a decent effort on his handicap debut behind last week’s Meydan winner Lion’s Mane, taking a big step forward on previous form.

He’s very unexposed and if finding further improvement, he should go well despite being off the track since February.

The final race on the card, the 1600m handicap, has attracted a maximum field of 16 and looks wide-open. Michael Costa, the season’s leading trainer, is two-handed with Asaassi and Kaatibb, the choice of Ben Coen.

Asaassi, with Ray Dawson up, has the benefit of a recent run when finishing a respectable third at Jebel Ali. A winner at York and Salisbury for former trainer Roger Varian, he will be suited switching to turf today and should go well.

Kaatibb, 0-7 on turf, has the advantage of an inside draw and should enjoy a ground-saving trip under Coen. A winner at Jebel Ali in January, he was well held in his next two starts at Abu Dhabi and Jebel Ali and looks opposable returning from a break.

It’s hard to ignore the claims of Eye On The Prize, the mount of former UAE champion Richard Mullen. He shaped nicely on his first start of the season, just failing to catch Andreas Vesalius at Abu Dhabi last month.

He holds obvious claims, despite going up in the weights and being done no favours with draw No 16.

Watson and Pat Dobbs have a decent record at Abu Dhabi and the pair team up with Wanees, owned by Shadwell Stable. Since joining Watson at Red Stables last year, he has run well in defeat and the highlight of his first season in the UAE was a close third behind Dionysian at Abu Dhabi in February.

His fitness has to be taken on trust off a 237-day absence, but he has a good chance of gaining a first victory since winning at Haydock in September 2022.

Bhupat Seemar’s lightly raced British import, Honest Desire, formerly trained by Charlie Appleby, is an interesting runner on his UAE debut.

By Frankel, he was an expensive recruit from the Racing In Dubai Sale in March, fetching AED 300,000 (R1.5m). He won one of his five races for Godolphin, a minor event at Kempton 12 months ago, and merits respect if primed for his local/seasonal debut.

Best Bet: Race 6 No 1 Desert Snake

Best Value: Race 7 No 12 Poster Paint

Best Swinger: Race 6: 1-Desert Snake and 3-Gareth

JACKPOT

(Races 4-7)

R24

Leg 1: 3, 4, 5

Leg 2: 3, 12

Leg 3: 1

Leg 4: 1, 2, 4, 12