Three big events open Abu Dhabi horse racing season

A Group 3 prize and two world championship titles are up for grabs in the opening racing meeting of the season in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

Shayel Aldhabi is one of two runners trainer Ernst Oertel will have in the Sheikh Zayed Cup in Abu Dhabi today. Christopher Pike / The National

ABU DHABI // A Group 3 prize and two world championship titles are up for grabs in the opening horse racing meeting of the season in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

The Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup, elevated to Group 3 status this year, carries a purse of Dh420,000 as the feature race, but a tremendous amount of interest will be drawn to the Sheikha Fatima bin Mubarak World Championships for Ladies, the sixth race on the night, and Apprentice jockeys championship, the evening's fourth race.

Ernst Oertel, the two-time UAE champion trainer, has two runners in the Sheikh Zayed Cup run over 1,600 metres.

The South African saddles Richlore and Shayel Aldhabi, the choice of the UAE champion and stable jockey Tadgh O’Shea.

“They are two nice mares who have progressed with their racing,” said the Al Asayl trainer who has already sent out four winners this season. “Shayel Aldhabi is dropping down markedly in grade and these are probably her optimum conditions. She should go close as she is in great form at home. Richlore is also working well and was a revelation at the start of the year, improving all the time. It is always nice to have two good chances in such a race.”

Majed Al Jahouri, the Emirati who trains for Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, has three entered – headed by Thakif, ridden by Harry Bentley, and newcomers Marzooq (Dane O’Neill) and Shateh (Saeed Al Mazrouei).

“Marzooq and Shateh arrived last season but we decided to give them more time. They have prepared well and we’re pleased with their work. We are hoping all three will have a chance in this race,” Al Jahouri said.

The two horses to fear most are Eric Lemartinel’s Albar Lotois ridden by Gerald Avranche and Ali Rashid Al Raihe’s AF Lafeh under stable jockey Royston Ffrench.

Oertel is also strongly represented in both the Ladies and Apprentice Championships with a quartet in each of the two races.

Molahen El Alhan spearheads his challenge in the Ladies championship. The locally bred four-year-old gelded son of Al Nasr has won four of his seven starts and only once finished out of the top two. Jadey Pietrasiewicz from Holland is on board.

“He is in great form,” Oertel said. “We expect him to improve again this year so this looks a good starting point and we have drawn a good jockey.”

Lemartinel saddles Bigg N Rich who looks the one to beat under Anna van den Troost from Belgium.

“The horse is fit and well and we are well drawn. I don’t know a lot about the jockey but have to be hopeful he at least goes close,” the Frenchman said.

Last night, the only thoroughbred race on Sharjah’s second card of the season, a 1,200m handicap, was won in devastating fashion by Price Is Truth. Richard Mullen was in the saddle and provided his main employer, trainer Satish Seemar, with a landmark 650th UAE winner in the process.

It was a first victory at the 13th attempt for the horse who passed the line 13 lengths clear of his field.

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