Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi season gets underway with world’s richest race for Purebred Arabian - €1.2million (Dh4.78 million) Group 1 Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club on Sunday.
Manark, winner of the Kahayla Classic during the Dubai World Cup, owned by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, starts as firm favourite in the Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown.
The owner’s retained jockey Dane O’Neill will be in charge of Manark, who is trained by Erwan Charpy. Manark has four turf victories to his credit in Europe and has won two races in his three local starts.
The strong field of 16 for the 1600m feature event will, for the first time, also see runners from America and Europe.
“We are really looking forward to the race. Obviously, it is a very strong field but he is a good horse and has been working very nicely in his preparation,” said O’Neill, adding, “Meydan is obviously a different surface and left-handed as opposed to Abu Dhabi which is turf and right-handed but it should not be an issue. We are hoping for a big run.”
For the Americans - the Scott and Lori Powell co-owned Paddy’s Day along with So Big Is Better, owned by Scott’s younger brother Mark, are the ones to watch out for. Other two American challengers are RB Rich and RB Frynch Broad. European hope rests on Athlete Del Sol, trained by Karin van den Bos.
Paddy’s Day comes in with a huge reputation having won 12 from 14 starts including a second and fourth place finish. It has also won a Group 1 race in Houston. More importantly, Paddy’s Day has also beaten So Big Is Better four times. The only time that So Big Is Better edged out Paddy’s Day was in the last meeting in September.
Jockey Kelsi Purcell, who will be on board Paddy’s Day is the only female jockey to ride in the world’s richest race for the Purebred Arabians, has already hinted that she will be looking to emulate the success that Michelle Payne achieved at the Melbourne Cup.
“I’m confident of doing well here among the male counterparts. I have had some memorable rides with him (Paddy’s Day) and he has always campaigned very hard and Scott has done a great job in managing him. Hopefully, we can pull it off here,” said Purcell while speaking to Gulf News.
Mark-trained 11-year-old grey son of Burning Sand – So Big Is Better will be ridden by Travis Wales, who was keen on impressing on behalf of America. “It’s going to be a great challenge. I just hope that I manage to represent the US as well as possible,” said Wales, who will be starting from gate three.
French trainer Eric Lemartinel of HH The President Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s stables Al Asayl also has strong claim for the plum prize with Abhaar, the ride of Tadhg O’Shea and Abu Alabyad ridden by Gerald Avranche.
Abhaar has been unbeaten in five starts and Abu Alabyad had won the Dh3 million President’s Cup last year. “We have some good horses out there and I’m confident of them doing well,” said Lemartinel.
Qatar entry Kalino from Alban De Mieulle and UAE’s Nacer Samiri-trained Thakif are also ones to watch out for.
The final round of the Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival consists of a six-race card and it also includes the final round of the Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice Jockey Championship and the Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship.
In the apprentice championship, the focus will be on Turkey’s Ismail Koyuncu, husband of UAE based Omani lady jockey Salima Al Taleei, first professional female jockey of the Gulf.
“I want to do well here. This is my last season as apprentice jockey so it will be great to register a win. I’m very much confident of putting up a good show,” said Koyuncu, father of a four-month old daughter.
