Ed Marnane
Libyan owner Omar Esmil Ghrghar has spent heavily at the horses in training sales in Europe last year, acquiring young horses with smart form to race in the Emirates. Among his new recruits is The Camden Colt, a purchase at Tattersalls July Sale who runs in the 1600m handicap at the Abu Dhabi Turf Club on Sunday.
Formerly trained by Richard Hannon, he made an eye-catching UAE debut, off a 204-day break, for Bhupat Seemar at Meydan last month.
Ridden by Tadhg O’Shea, he bumped into an unexposed and well handicapped Godolphin four-year-old and connections will have been delighted with his effort in the 15-runner handicap. The Camden Colt should be sharper for his comeback and from a plum draw in stall No 1, he rates the best bet on the eight-race card.
Delorean, trained by Ahmad bin Harmash, caused a minor shock when scoring at Meydan 16 days ago, appreciating the switch to turf after badly disappointing at Jebel Ali in December. Winner of two of his eight races on turf, he’s unexposed on grass and commands plenty of respect from a yard that won the UAE 2000 Guineas last week.
Of the rest, Simon and Ed Crisford’s Tamrat is one to consider on his Abu Dhabi debut, despite being done no favours with his draw. Formerly trained in Ireland by Ger Lyons, he didn’t shape too badly on his first start in the Middle East, finishing a creditable sixth behind Legends Of Cannes having endured a troubled passage in a competitive handicap at Meydan. The application of visor, replacing cheekpieces, could spark improvement in the son of Invincible Spirit.
Race 7, the 2400m handicap, sees a rare runner at the Abu Dhabi Turf Club for Charlie Appleby and the hint should be taken. Owned by Godolphin, Regal Connection is a consistent performer and caught the eye on his seasonal debut when a close third at Meydan last month. He’s entitled to be sharper for the race and is a lightly raced gelding that remains open to further improvement.
Racing opens with an Arabian maiden, restricted to local-bred four-year-olds and the most valuable race on the programme. South African Ernst Oertel is enjoying a solid season and holds a strong hand, saddling three of the 14 runners, all owned by Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda. Champion jockey Tadhg O’Shea has chosen to ride the unexposed Af Jahfal and the colt has shown minor promise in two starts, the most recent when a respectable sixth in a stronger race. He is open to improvement on his third lifetime start and I expect he will put up bold show.
The second maiden on the card, the Al Bateen Mile, looks a good opportunity Sama Al Izz to get off the mark. Trained by Ibrahim Al Hadhrami, she ran well in defeat in a barrier trial earlier in the campaign, showing the benefit of that experience when an encouraging second behind Al Fatih, over the same course and distance, on her racecourse debut the following month. The winner gave the form a boost, thanks to his good second behind the smart young Arabian Rasasi in the Abu Dhabi Championship (Listed).
Sama Al Izz has the services of Connor Beasley, the season’s leading rider who has found the Abu Dhabi Turf Club a happy hunting ground this winter.
Race 2, the Al Mushrif Mile, is the first handicap of the night and a full field of 14 run, and Oertel and O’Shea team up with
Kiria De Faust. She needs to take a step forward having shown little in four maidens since joining Oertel, the latest when soundly beaten at Jebel Ali. She began her career in Europe and if rediscovering the pick of her French form, she has the potential to exploit an opening mark of 65. She will be suited switching to turf.
Race 5, the 2200m Arabian handicap, is a competitive contest and the unexposed Rumz, from the foot of the weights, looks the answer in the 12-runner event. Since arriving in the UAE, he has progressed steadily with racing and his latest run behind Af Asyaf in a big field, over the same course and distance, was highlight of his four local runs to date.
A mark of 70 and apprentice Khalid Al Balushi’s 3kg allowance suggests he will be competitive on his handicap debut.
SELECTIONS
Race 1
2 AF JAHFAL 5 SHAMIKH BAYNOUNAH 1 AF ALMUBARAK 8 AF SAQARA
Race 2
5 KIRIA DE FAUST 4 KHALDOUN AL WATHBA 6 MUSAANED 14 SAMAU XMNSOR
Race 3
7 RAMIZ AL WATHBA 9 AF THARWATY 2 AF RASAM 4 JAP MEHNA
Race 4
13 SAMA AL IZZ 3 ALSALAM 7 LAHIJ 12 RB BOUJEE
Race 5
12 RUMZ 7 MAIMOUN RS 4 NO AND NO AL MAURY 5 WAAJIB
Race 6
2 AAZAAD 6 IDYLIK EL ALHEM 10 MH RAHI 8 HAWAFEZ
Race 7
3 REGAL CONNECTION 4 DECIDUOUS 5 DESERT SNAKE 12 DUBAI VISION
Race 8
3 THE CAMDEN COLT 5 DELOREAN 8 TAMRAT 2 WANEES
Best Bet: 3 The Camden Colt [Race 8]
Best Value: 12 Rumz [Race 5]
Best Swinger: 3 Regal Connection and 5 Desert Snake [Race 7]
JACKPOT
[Races 5-8]
R64
Leg 1: 4, 5, 7, 10
Leg 2: 2, 6, 8, 10
Leg 3: 3
Leg 4: 2, 3, 5, 8