Salem Al Ketbi hopes to maintain early success after taking over for suspended Ernst Oertel

Al Ketbi has three entered in the Listed Arabian Triple Crown Round 1 in Abu Dhabi as RB Torch, Estourah and Abhaar will all be in the featured race, reports Amith Passela.

Estourah is one of three runners from Al Asayl Stables that will race in the Listed Arabian Triple Crown on Sunday night. Ravindranath K / The National

ABU DHABI // The relentless run of the Al Asayl Stables is set to continue under Salem Al Ketbi after the Emirati took charge of the yard from Ernst Oertel, the two-time UAE champion trainer who is serving a four-month ban.

Al Ketbi has already tasted success saddling a double at the Al Ain racecourse last week and is set for more success with some of the stables fancied runners entered in Sunday night’s meeting at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club.

Al Ketbi has three entered in the Listed Arabian Triple Crown Round 1, the featured prize in the six-race card.

RB Torch spearheads the trio that includes Estourah and Abhaar, all three impressive winners on their racecourse debuts.

RB Torch trounced his rivals by six lengths at the Al Ain racetrack on November 7 and the American bred chestnut son of TH Richie is the choice of stable jockey Tadhg O’Shea.

Richard Mullen takes the ride on the filly Estourah, a course and distance winner more than a month ago, while Adrie de Vries is on board the Al Nasr colt, Abhaar, also a winner on the track on November 9.

Oertel has been suspended after two of his horses had been administered a banned substance, ibuprofen, which is considered to be a therapeutic substance in racehorses.

Al Ketbi is no stranger to the job.

He is a former jockey and trained at the Al Asayl Stables for several years before being appointed as the racing manager for Sheikh Khalifa, President of the UAE.

“I have been involved in all work-related matters of the horses and the stables, and can carry on with the work until Ernst’s return,” Al Ketbi said.

“We have three good juveniles entered for the featured prize and would like to think one of them can win the prize for us.

“All three have won from their first starts and certainly would have benefited from that outing.”

Al Ketbi also saddles Shaheer and Rehal in the opener, RB Smokin Rich and Molahen El Alhan a half-hour later, and Najm Alemarat in the third race.

In the concluding race for the thoroughbreds, he has entered Malenkov, a close second to Antinori at his last start over the course and distance three weeks ago.

“All the horses entered across the five races are in with chances,” Al Ketbi said.

“RB Smokin Rich has won once from two starts and Molahen El Alhan has won twice from three starts. They are both in good shape going in to this race.

“Malenkov went very close last time out in his second start of the season and is meeting almost the same opposition. We expect him to run another big race.”

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