Having been forced to abandon their scheduled meeting two weeks ago to allow for remedial work on the turf, racing returns to Abu Dhabi Sunday and Sheikh Mansour will be hoping to win the featured Group 3 Al Ruwais for a sixth consecutive season.
Leading his dual assault on the race is Sha’Red, winner of the race 12 months ago having dead-heated with the same owner’s Rakha in this contest in 2014.
Trained by Nacer Saimiri, he will be ridden by Wayne Smith so Sha’Red is representing the same connections who combined to win the Group 1 middle round of the Al Maktoum Challenge on Thursday with Haajeb.
Smith said: “This is always a strong yard to ride for and I am really looking forward to rising Sha’Red for the first time. He clearly has a lot in his favour as he is proven over course and distance.”
With Smith’s mount carrying a penalty, stable companion, Shateh, the mount of Harry Bentley, could be the main danger although he will be sporting the fledgling colours of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mansour.
The new owner has only had one horse run previously, Areem, who has won both his starts so far this season.
However, Bentley’s mount has been off the track since December 2014 and will be trying this minimum trip for the first time. That said, he has always shown bags of pace so it could well suit him.
The only Thoroughbred race is a fascinating 2200m handicap and several connections will be hoping for a win to try and cement a rating sufficient to gain a run at the Meydan Carnival.
Just below a Carnival rating is Soviet Rock, trained by Ismail Mohammed and the mount of the aforementioned Smith.
