ABU DHABI // Salem Al Ketbi and Tadhg O'Shea, one of the UAE's top trainer-jockey combinations, expect a solid return from their entries on Sunday's seven-race card in the capital.
Al Ketbi, the Al Asayl Stables trainer, sends out Abhaar in the second race, the Emirates Colts Classic, and Shaheer in the Group 3 Arabian Triple Crown Round 2, the sixth race.
Abhaar is attempting to win his fourth race in four starts when he takes on six rivals in the 1,600-metre event with Prestige status for Purebred Arabian four-year-old colts and geldings bred in the UAE.
Shaheer, a winner over 1,600m by more than seven lengths on his local debut six weeks ago, starts favourite over his 10 Purebred Arabian rivals in tonight’s Dh300,000 contest run over 2,200m.
“Abhaar has impressed every time he raced, and I expect another big run from him,” Al Ketbi said. “Shaheer was runner-up in his three starts in France and he, too, was impressive when winning on his local debut.
“This is a bit tougher and he is tackling the distance for the first time. He has run close to this distance in France twice, and I hope he will stay the extra furlong.”
The next most valuable prize on the card is the fourth race, the Abu Dhabi Championship Prep for thoroughbreds, and the Al Ketbi-O’Shea partnership can go close with Malekov.
The six year old was runner-up to Snow Squall over the course and distance in his last start three weeks ago.
“He seems to like the turf in Abu Dhabi and, judging by his three runs in Abu Dhabi this season, he can go close,” Al Ketbi said.
Malekov flopped at Meydan when tried on the dirt at his second last start, but he had run third behind Ukrainian and was second to Antinori in his previous two starts in Abu Dhabi. Ukrainian and Antinori are among the eight rivals Malekov faces in the conditions race.
apassela@thenational.ae
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