The rise of Ernst Oertel during the past few seasons has been impressive, but successfully defending his trainers’ championship title for a second consecutive campaign would be his greatest professional achievement.
Oertel has fewer horses than last season, when he drew clear of Musabah Al Muhairi in the race to be the leading trainer in the UAE, which starts again Friday at Jebel Ali.
Where his title bids have previously been bolstered by acquiring rich pickings at a low level, he has been challenged to produce victories in more prestigious races by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, President of the UAE. In short, the emphasis has shifted from quantity to quality.
If that were not pressure enough, Oertel has to operate at the same elite standard having had his left leg amputated in the summer due to complications from a fracture.
As a former paratrooper, however, Oertel operates from a manual that does not contain the word “adversity”. He received his prosthetic leg two months ago after a brief convalescence in London, and the South African has accepted his lot in life with typical candour. He will not use his predicament as an excuse for failure.
“I’m up walking around fully now,” Oertel said. “I get a little bit of pain, but it is nothing compared to what it was.
“It hasn’t been a problem getting accustomed to working at Al Asayl with it. I haven’t ridden a horse yet, but I’ll try that next week.
“It’s boring as hell driving a car watching horses galloping up a hill. The horses are in great shape and we’re ready here to defend our title.”
The championship is primarily a numbers game, but Oertel has got by in the past three seasons despite inferior numbers to his main rivals.
Last season he had fewer runners than Al Muhairi, who could find things harder without jockey Wayne Smith this season, Ali Rashid Al Raihe and Satish Seemar, whom he feels will pose the most significant threat to his hegemony.
Oertel’s squad of horses has been reduced by around 10 from last year. His stable includes 60 Purebred Arabians and 14 thoroughbreds.
It was Skoop, a five-year-old chestnut, from whom Oertel fell last year. It was a fall that broke his leg and set off a series of events that resulted in his operation in London.
Skoop had his own operation to remove chips to his joints, and Oertel believes his old friend will be a key player in his championship bid.
“His first two runs last year were good, but he then started feeling it and had the chips taken out,” Oertel said. “He is, honestly, a very good horse and if he is right it will take a very good one to beat him. He’ll be aimed at the President’s Cup.”
Skoop may well lead the line, but Nymphea Du Paon, Collateral, Richlore, and Shayel Aldhabi are familiar Purebred Arabian names that will keep the Al Asayl flag flying throughout the season.
Oertel’s Purebred Arabian stocks have been replenished, too.
Abu Alabyad won the 2013 Prix Kesberoy, the prestigious French Group 1, and was subsequently third in the lucrative Arabian Trophy for colts at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe meeting 12 months ago. Trainer Jean-Francois Bernard’s loss is Oertel’s gain.
“He’ll go to the National Day Cup Preparation next month,” Oertel said. “He is the best new Purebred Arabian I have.”
Oertel concedes that his thoroughbred team need attention, with Capital Attraction no more than a useful servant, although Oh Star, an American-bred filly who ran with credit at Listed level in Europe this season for John Gosden, is an eye-catching acquisition.
In the 2011/12 season, Oertel accumulated Dh1.8 million in prize-money, the lion’s share of which was from 16 winners.
Last season, he generated three times the amount of winners for double the prize money.
Oertel was top trainer in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Sharjah, which propelled Sheikh Khalifa to the position as top owner and Tadhg O’Shea as top jockey at those courses.
Oertel cut little ice in Dubai, at Jebel Ali and Meydan.
Some dream of being champion, but Oertel has proved that he is the type to convert aspirations into reality.
“I did think when I first came to Abu Dhabi that I’d be champion with the horses and facilities we have,” he said.
“You can hope for things, but they don’t often happen.”
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