Abu Dhabi: Nymphea Du Paon starts as firm favourite for the middle round of the Arabian Triple Crown, the feature event of Abu Dhabi’s Sunday card that will see 11 horses in fray for the 2200m Group 3 contest.

Nymphea Du Paon has already won the Listed Abu Dhabi Championship on her local debut and was first past the post in the first round of the Arabian Triple Crown — but was disqualified later. A Group 2 winner in France, before joining UAE Champion Trainer Ernst Oertel, Nymphea Du Paon will be ridden by champion jockey Tadhg O’Shea.

“She is certainly a smart filly and has done nothing but please us since she arrived. We hope she will stay 2200m and she has a touch of class which will stand her in good stead,” said O’Shea.

“She does have to give weight to some useful, rivals, including colts, which is never ideal but hopefully her undoubted class will be key,” he added.

Nymphea Du Paon will be challenged by Swwing, second to Oertel’s filly in the Abu Dhabi Championship and subsequently third in the opening round of the Arabian Triple Crown.

Swwing, trained by Eric Lemartinel, is the mount of Ted Durcan with stable jockey, Gerald Avranche, seemingly preferring to ride stable companion Major, behind Durcan’s mount on both his local starts but likely to relish this stamina test.

Majed Al Jahouri has managed some impressive results in recent times and so one needs to keep a close watch on local debutant Mubasher under Harry Bentley. Winner once from three starts in France, he is owned by Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan,Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs. Shaikh Mansour also owns Haajeb and Haanoof,

The 1600m Emirates Colts’ Classic, AF Al Hazer, awarded the opening round of the Arabian Triple Crown when Nymphea Du Paon was disqualified, looks a strong contender. AF Al Hazer under Royston Ffrench is expected to face a stiff challenge from Oertel and O’Shea’s — Molahen Alham.

In the only Thoroughbred race, the 2200m Abu Dhabi Championship Prep - 13 are set to face the starter. Satish Seemar is particularly well represented, with five runners and stable jockey, Richard Mullen elects to ride Inthar, already a course winner twice this season.