Al Ain’s new dirt surface similar to California’s Santa Anita Park

The Al Ain Racecourse is all set up for its second season with a new dirt surface in place and Friday night’s six-race card to be conducted under lights for the first time.

Neil Abrahams, the racing manager of Al Ain, compared the new surface to California’s Santa Anita Park.

“After listening to feedback from jockeys and trainers last season we decided to change surface,” the Canadian said.

“We had trials on it last week and the jockeys really liked it. It is very similar to the surface at Santa Anita with minimal ­kickback.

“We are really excited about the new season and have also introduced a big screen to make viewing easier.

“It is a great new addition for the course and we are expecting a great first meeting when we have a new late start time of 5pm and the floodlights will be utilised for the first time on a race day.”

Al Ain’s first of 10 race meetings begins with a contest for thoroughbreds that has attracted 15 maiden runners over 1,800 metres.

The remaining five races are for purebred Arabians with a 1400m conditions race, offering Dh80,000 in prize money, the highlight.

RB Smokin Rich, trained by Ernst Oertel and ridden by Tadhg O’Shea, the champion trainer and jockey, looks the one to beat with two wins and two thirds in his four career starts, all on the turf in Abu Dhabi.

“He works well on dirt at home so the surface should be fine,” said O’Shea. “This colt was progressing all the time last season and seems quicker this time round.

“He won over 1,600m last year as well as 1,400m but I would actually not be surprised if he develops into a very useful sprinter at 1,200m – maybe even 1,000m. He has a lot of toe. We expect him to go very close.”

Stable companion TM Junior Johnson under the stable apprentice Daniel Muscatt could be the main danger. The six-year-old chestnut son of Burning Sand returns to dirt, a surface on which he impressed in his native United States, after a disappointing UAE career.

His past dirt form saw him win five of his six starts, including in a Group 2 event.

Helal Al Alawi’s Knife and Najem S’Heel, trained by Saifaldin Deeb, are the ones likely to pose a threat to Oertel’s pair.

Satish Seemar has three entered for the thoroughbred prize, headed by Earth Tour ridden by stable jockey Richard Mullen, and Sooth Al Ssalam under stable apprentice Marc Monaghan, while Sam Hitchcott is on board Mountain Lion.

Oertel runs Lord Empire, a three-year-old gelded son of Invincible Spirit, who is making his UAE debut after three runs in England.

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