Al Ain: The Al Ain Racecourse is set to offer a competitive seven-race programme on Friday highlighted by a 1000 metres Purebred Arabian handicap for which 14 horses have been declared.
With the majority of the runners carrying more weight than their official handicap mark would normally allocate, it looks wise to concentrate on the top five on the card, headed by the Musabah Al Muhairi-trained pair of Love To Dance and Aim Hi.
Stable jockey, Fernando Jara, rides the former with the yard’s apprentice, George Buckell, aboard the stable companion. Both jockeys are enjoying good seasons with Jara, on 13 winners, just two ahead of Buckell.
“We think they should both run well,” said Al Muhairi. “Both have plenty of pace and their best form is on dirt so, hopefully, at the weights they have a lot in their favour.”
Leading Purebred Arabian trainer Eric Lemartinel provides the main dangers, saddling no less than five.
RB Inferno and Eswarah, the mounts of Gerald Avranche and Tadhg O’Shea respectively, appear to hold the strongest credentials of the quintet with preference, at the weights, for the former.
Trainer Nacer Samiri has booked Omani-apprentice Saif Al Baloushi for Da’Areen in the feature. She was just behind RB Inferno last time and there should be little between the pair again.
Al Baloushi, with ten career wins so far, has picked up four rides for his first outing on an UAE racecorse.
The Curragh Racecourse, Ireland’s home to all five of their Classics has recently linked with the Al Ain track and sponsor the only Thoroughbred contest, a 1400m handicap which has attracted a maximum field of 12.
