Ed Marnane
Four days after staging their biggest meeting of the season racing returns to Abu Dhabi for a low-key six-race card, featuring the first event on turf for two-year-olds.
The race, run over 1600m, sees all the top yards represented, and the unraced Al Arbed is an interesting runner for prominent UAE owner Naser Askar.
Trained by Bhupat Seemar, he was sold at the inaugural Goffs Dubai World Cup Sale in March, costing his owner €61,981 (R1.1m). By Dark Angel, he’s a well-bred colt out of Apphia, a two-time winner including at Group 3 level. He has the benefit of a recent trial and won’t need to be above average to make a winning debut.
Champion jockey Tadhg O’Shea, the top rider at Abu Dhabi last season, has a full book of rides and will be hoping to get among the winners as he seeks to extend his lead at the top of the table.
He rides AF Mathakeel for South African trainer Ernst Oertel in the 1200m maiden, Race 2. He will appreciate return to Abu Dhabi having run below-par on dirt at Al Ain on his most recent outing, having previously run well when second to Ibn Des Vialettes at this course. Drawn nicely in stall No 2, he a big player in a race that won’t take much winning.
Hamloola, drawn in stall No 1, is the chief threat under former champion Richard Mullen. He has shown a reasonable level of ability in his two appearances.
Racing gets underway with competitive 13-runner 2200m handicap. SS Dostoor, the mount of Ray Dawson, has been knocking on the door since returning this season. It’s hard to fault his consistency and he holds sound claims.
O’Shea, who had the choice of the three Khalifia Al Nabooda owned horses, has chosen AF Al Moreeb, winner of two of his 17 races but without a win for two years. He has progressed steadily with racing this season and if seeing out the trip, he should go close.
Race 5, the mile conditions race, is the best race on the card, three of the 12 Arabians declared are rated above 100. French-bred Hakeem, trained by Salem Al Ketbi, has a touch of class and made a pleasing local debut last month, shaping like he’d improve for the race on the back of a near 13-month absence.
He was a smart performer in France, winning on his racecourse debut and was a good second in Group 1 Al Rayyan Cup at Deauville.
A low draw in Race 3, the 1200m handicap, is an advantage around the tight turns of Abu Dhabi, especially in a full field of 14. Al Ajeeb W’rsan, trained by Jaci Wickham, should enjoy a ground-saving trip drawn in stall one. Not seen since March, he can start his campaign with a bang under Sam Hitchcott.
Race 5, the mile maiden for local-bred Arabians is a weak contest. Jakar Br is one to consider despite a wide draw. He wasn’t disgraced on his racecourse debut at Jebel Ali recently, keeping on one-paced to finish eighth of 16 behind Meeqat, a performance that can be upgraded having been awkward leaving the stalls.
It would be no surprise if AF Almuheb lefts his two moderate performances on dirt well behind switching to turf. Trained by Ernst Oertel, he has the plum draw in stall one and has the services of Tadhg O’Shea.
Best Bet: Race 5 No 5 Hakeem
Best Value: Race 3 No 5 Ajeeb W’rsan
Best Swinger: Race 5 5-Hakeem and 1-Af Mualami
JACKPOT
Races 3 to 6
R48
Leg 1: 3, 5, 7
Leg 2: 2, 6, 7, 10
Leg 3: 1, 5, 8
Leg 4: 2