The first round of the Arabian Triple Crown, a 1600m Listed contest, is the official feature at Abu Dhabi on Sunday evening with RB Torch looking a live hope for Champion Jockey Tadhg O’Shea and trainer Salem Al Ketbi.
The trainer actually saddles three of the 14 (maximum) field and the trio are all winners of their only previous start.
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O’Shea’s mount created a very favourable impression when scoring over 1400m on the Al Ain dirt on his debut and, after much thought, the jockey sticks with him.
O’Shea said: “These decisions are never easy, especially when all three are unbeaten and done nothing wrong.
“RB Torch had been working well before his win and impressed all of us when winning at Al Ain. I am just hoping he handles the Abu Dhabi turf just as well.”
O’Shea’s choice leaves Richard Mullen to ride stable companion Estourah with Adrie De Vries aboard the trainer’s third runner, Abhaar.
Qatar’s Champion Jockey, Harry Bentley, rides local debutante Da’Areen for Majed Al Jahouri and Sheikh Mansour. She looks a big danger to the Al Ketbi trio, despite failing to win in eights starts in her native France.
She was not beaten too far in a Group Three contest at Toulouse on her most recent outing and takes a drop on class here.
The only Thoroughbred race on the card, a 2400m handicap, features a clash between last year’s first, second and third.
Mullen won the race on the Satish Seemar-trained Inthar 12 months ago, but chooses to ride stable companion Antinori this time.
Apprentice Marc Monaghan takes over on Inthar. Former UK Champion Jockey, Paul Hanagan, rides for the first time since fracturing his collarbone in November.
He rides Udabaa for trainer Doug Watson and his main employer Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, in a race they were third last year. Watson also saddles Dr Faustus.
