| The National

ABU DHABI // With stable jockey Tadhg O’Shea suspended for careless riding, Adrie de Vries gets the plum rides of the UAE champion trainer Ernst Oertel in tonight’s meeting at the capital’s racecourse.

The Dutchman is booked on four of the Al Asayl Stable handler’s first-choice Purebred Arabians, including Nymphea Du Paon in the Listed Abu Dhabi Championship, plus Molahen El Alhan and Fatat Al Arab, in the Abu Dhabi Colts and Fillies Classics.

Nymphea Du Paon is a winner of two races in three starts, including a Group 2 prize in France, and makes her first bow in the Emirates in the event for three year olds over 1,600 metres.

“Nymphea Du Paon is a very nice filly with strong form in Europe,” Oertel said. “She has settled in well and pleased me with her work. Hopefully she will run a big race for us.”-

The South African has also entered Burj Khalifa, a winner on his debut in a Listed event and in his next start, also in France.

“He’s also got what it takes to win a race of this level. It will be his first start in more than six months, but again, we are hopeful that one of the two can win for us,” he said.

Of the challengers, Eric Lemartinel’s duo Major and Swwing look like the picks of the 10-runner field. Major is the choice of the stable jockey Gerald Avranche. The bay son of leading sire Dormane has played second fiddle in all four of his career starts in France, including a Group 1 race in his most recent outing.

“He arrived with some decent form and still needs a career-best effort to win this prize,” the French rider said.

Oertel holds all the aces in the first two races, with Fatat Al Arab, with a win and a second under her belt, going in the Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic, plus Molahen El Alhan, who is two from two, going in the Colts Classic. Both races are for three year olds bred in the UAE.

Molahen El Alhan was an impressive winner of the opening race in Abu Dhabi’s curtain-raiser on November 10 and also won over the course and distance in his next start four weeks ago.

“He’s done nothing wrong so far and I would like to think he stands a big chance on that showing alone,” Oertel said of the bay son of Al Nasr.

Oertel has three entered in the Fillies Classic. Fatat Al Arab appears to be the stable’s first choice, but Afaal and Al Yawazi, both winners at Sharjah, could run close.

The trainer also has entered a trio of newcomers in the fourth race, with RB Smokin Rich being the choice of De Vries over Rehal and My Kayjun Cruiser.

James Doyle is booked on the Al Asayl Stables horse El Mansour in the concluding handicap for the thoroughbreds.

The six-year-old gelded son of Rahy made a winning return in his first start in two years at Meydan Racecourse on November 7, but was unplaced over the course and distance in the next outing two weeks later.

apassela@thenational.ae

Adrie de Vries can turn out to be a super sub for the UAE champion trainer Ernst Oertel when stepping in for the stable jockey Tadhg O’Shea.