Dubai: Champion trainer Ernst Oertel bids to give His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President, back-to-back victories in Round 1 of the Listed Arabian Triple Crown series when he saddles the progressive Nymphea Du Paon in Sunday’s feature race at Abu Dhabi.

The French-bred filly was an impressive winner of the Abu Dhabi Championship over course and distance two weeks ago and looks the one they will all have to beat in chase of the Dh100,000 purse.

Oertel saddled Shayel Aldhabi to win the 1600m contest 12 months ago and is represented by two other strong contenders, Molahen El Alham and Bhurj Khalifa, who will also race in the colours of Shaikh Khalifa.

James Doyle takes the ride on Nymphea Du Paon, while Dutchman Adrie de Vries has been called up for duty aboard Molahen El Alham, the recent Abu Dhabi Colts Classic runner-up.

French rider Noel Garbutt will partner Bhurj Khalifa, who finished third behind stable companion Nymphea Du Paon in the Abu Dhabi Championship.

Shortly after Nymphea Du Paon romped to victory in the Listed contest, Oertel said: “She is a very nice filly. I haven’t done a true piece of work on her and was a bit concerned of her fitness. She proved me wrong and won well. She will progress from this race.

“I was a little bit disappointed with the colt [Molahen El Alham] though. He was green and still a baby. We took the blinkers off because I thought it would help him. It was a mistake.”

Frenchman Eric Lemartinel provides the main threat to Oertel’s bid for most Listed race glory with Swwing, who chased Nymphea Du Paon to the line two weeks ago and returns hoping to reverse the result.

However, the French-bred colt who is looking for his maiden victory in four starts, has a lot to find on form, having been well and truly beaten on that day. Former seven-time UAE champion jockey Ted Durcan takes the ride.

Ebrahim Al Hadrani saddles another strong contender in the unbeaten Af Al Hazer. Bred in the UAE by Khalid Al Nabooda, the colt carries excellent form, having won the Abu Dhabi Colts Classic by a decisive margin of four lengths just two weeks ago.

He is also a proven performer on the Abu Dhabi turf, where he is unbeaten in three starts, two of them under jockey

Royston Ffrench, who resumes his association with the four-year-old son of Af Al Buraq.

Sunday’s card also features four other Arabian events and a competitive looking 2400m contest for thoroughbreds.