Sunday evening’s Abu Dhabi card is dominated by the 3yo Purebred Arabians with no less than three feature races dedicated to the youngest age group to race in such (Purebred Arabian) circles.
Over 1600m, the Listed Abu Dhabi Championship is the official highlight and 12 are set to face the starter in a fascinating clash of the sexes; half the field are fillies, opposing five colts and a gelding.
The natural starting point appears to be Cloe De Faust, one of the most emphatic winners of the season thus far when ‘hosing up’ in an Al Ain maiden on her debut and sole career start to date.
– Horseracing: Art Wave looks good to dazzle at Jebel Ali
– Horseracing: Statistics reveal stellar 2015 for Godolphin
– Horseracing: Samiri’s National Day cup win
Ridden by Tadhg O’Shea, as she will be today and trained by Eric Lemartinel, she basically had that 1400m maiden won at halfway and was in a different league to her ten opponents. Admittedly that was a weak race, on dirt, but she could not have been more impressive.
Heading into today’s encounter O’Shea said: “We have always really liked this filly, as I said at Al Ain after her win. Nothing has happened in the interim to diminish our regard for her.”
Given the stable confidence, it is hard to look past her as the most likely winner but, should she fail to build on her winning debut, RV Moulins Monarch, Rabdan Al Ain and debutante AL Majda look the most likely beneficiaries.
The last named, trained by Ernst Oertel for owner Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda, could be seeking a rapid hat-trick on the card for connections who looks to hold very strong chances in the first two races.
La Bernadin shows the way in the Listed Dubai Creek Mile under Tadhg O’Shea for trainer, Ali Rashid Al Raihe. pic.twitter.com/M6Idcbh6ef
— Dubai World Cup (@DWC_Meydan) December 17, 2015
The meeting opens with the 1400m Abu Dhabi Fillies’ Classic and David Probert rides AF Laja for the Al Nabooda/Oertel combinations.
She was the easy winner of a course and distance maiden two weeks ago and looks primed to follow up here. O’Shea and Lemartinel, courtesy of Sharjah winner Alina, could be the biggest threat defending her unbeaten record.
Also over 1400m is the Abu Dhabi Colts’ Classic in which Al Nabooda is well represented with four of the 14 runners set to carry his colours.
O’Shea rides his AF Maqayes, winner of both his starts to date for Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
