Udabaa, trained by Doug Watson for Sheikh Hamdan, bids to retain his crown in a 2,400m handicap at Abu Dhabi this evening, the only Thoroughbred race on the card but the most valuable.
He faces 10 opponents, including stable companions Mujrayaat and Dr Faustus, runner-up in this race two years ago. Dane O’Neill has chosen to ride Udabaa from four runners, leaving stable jockey Pat Dobbs to ride Mujrayaat with Sam Hitchcott on Dr Faustus.
Watson said: “The horses have been, on the whole, in great form all season. These three were all poorly drawn on their most recent starts, especially Udabaa.”
On his most recent outing, Dr Faustus was third to Ukrainian, in opposition again and to be ridden by Royston Ffrench for his main employer Ali Rashid Al Raihe. That race, a fortnight ago, was over 2,200m but Ffrench’s mount has won over this longer trip.
As well as Dr Faustus renewing rivalry with Al Raihe’s charge, several others are seeking revenge, including the Satish Seemar pair of Antinori and Burdlaz.
Stable jockey Richard Mullen maintains faith in Antinori, the pair only having been denied by a neck last time, with Tadhg O’Shea coming in for the ride on Burdlaz.
Tanfeeth chased home Udabaa in this race last year and will appreciate the return to turf. The mount of Silvestre De Sousa, he is trained by Musabah Al Muhairi.
Vaasa makes his local debut for Ahmad bin Harmash with Wayne Smith in the saddle but is probably best watched on this occasion.
Only seven have been declared for the main Purebred Arabian contest, a 1,600m handicap which looks to revolve around the Jaber Bittar-trained Ragdan, the mount of Mullen, and Ernst Oertel pair Munzade and Molahen El Alhan.
Meanwhile, the featured 1,700m handicap at Sharjah yesterday was won by the Al Muhairi-trained Zaffaan under De Sousa.
Held up in midfield, De Sousa edged his mount into contention with about 500m to go and the pair hit the front 200m later as the early leaders weakened.
In the only Thoroughbred contest, a 2,000m handicap, Diwaan destroyed 11 rivals in devastating fashion, continuing the great run of trainer Watson. Stable jockey Dobbs was always oozing confidence and, once he pressed the button, Diwaan quickened clear.
The opening 1,200m maiden was won comfortably by AR Bint Al Arab with Royston Ffrench in the saddle for trainer Helal Al Alawi, while the concluding 1,700m maiden went to Balad Al Reef.
Ridden by Jesus Rosales, he is trained by Jaber Bittar.
