Abu Dhabi: On the heels of Handassa’s success in the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 at Meydan last week, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, and his jockey Paul Hanagan will be banking on AF Mathmoon to deliver the goods at the 1,400m Group 1 Liwa Oasis, the feature event at the capital course on Sunday.
AF Mathmoon, trained by Musabah Al Muhairi, is clearly the one to beat in the field of 10 as he holds the unbeaten record on both the 1,400m and on turf.
The horse made his mark with a win in his debut at the Abu Dhabi maiden in February last year and the followed it up with another in a course and distance handicap. He again was victorious this season in his third and final start in the colours of his breeder Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda over 1,600 metres.
His only defeat came in his first appearance at the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 (1,600m), where he had to settle for second spot behind Thakif. However, since that debut on dirt, he has come back to win over 1400 metres in the Group 2 Bani Yas challenge.
Hanagan was upbeat about AF Mathmoon’s chances, saying: “He has had very little racing and can hopefully keep improving. This looks [like] a good opportunity for him and we have to be very hopeful of a big run.”
In his win at Bani Yas, Hanagan’s mount beat Shateh, owned by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mansour Al Nahyan and trained by Nacer Samiri. Shateh, ridden by Harry Bentley, will also be in fray in Sunday’s outing. His success before the last race had come in the Group 3 Al Ruwais, over a minimum trip of 1000m.
Sha’Red, winner of last year’s Liwa Oasis when he was ridden by Silvestre De Sousa, will be looking to defend the title with Pat Dobbs.
President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan will have strong representation as Eric Lemartinel saddles two: Abhaar will be the mount of Tadhg O’Shea and RB Smokin Rich will be ridden by Gerald Avranche.
Abhaar has been a winner of all five career starts last season, including a maiden win over the 1,400 metres. However, this season his first win came in the fourth appearance, landing the 1,600 metres Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club Gold Cup where he beat Sharaf Al Reef by a neck in his recent start.
“He won with a bit in hand last time. He would have found more if needed. He is a nice horse and probably not yet the finished article. This should be a good test for him as AF Mathmoon has looked very useful,” said O’Shea.
In the main support race, the Group 3 Arabian Triple Crown Round 3 over 2400m restricted to four-year-olds, Mahbooba under Richard Mullen starts as a firm favourite. The Lemartinel ward was a winner in a Group 3 race, over 2,200 metres, after she held on in a thriller by a short-head from the wayward Sniper De Monlau, who lost ground in finishing from the nearside rail.
In the only Thoroughbred contest, a 1,400 metres handicap with the maximum field of 14, Idler, ridden by Freddy Tylicki, will be the horse to watch as three of his seven career victories have been achieved at this distance.
