Abu Dhabi: Some of the world’s top purebred Arabian horses will be seen in action at the Shaikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing’s annual festival on Friday.
Trying to defend the title in the €1.2 million (Dh5.1 million) Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup Crown Jewel (Group 1), the world’s richest Purebred Arabian race, will be RB Burn owned by Shaikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Things won’t be that easy for the Eric Lemartinel-trained five-year-old under jockey Gerald Avranche as there are some strong challengers in the fray.
Muraaqib, Faucon Du Loup, Sniper Du Monlau, Shateh, US raiders Paddys Day and Quick And Rich and the two mares — Mahbooba and RB Madymoiselle — along with two four-year-olds in Rmmas and Ahzar will all be keen to take something.
Avranche had ridden RB Burn last year and had a victory in the Group 1 Liwa Oasis at the capital course over 1,400m. In the other two starts on dirt at Meydan, the 1,600m Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge R1 and Kahayla Classic, RB Burn finished second.
Avranche was upbeat about RB Burn’s chances saying, “He is very good and versatile horse. He seems in the same kind of form as he was before the race last year.”
RB Burn had started from gate two last year, however, this time round he leave stall 14 and Avranche was quick to reveal that he would have “preferred a better draw”.
Stable companion Mahbooba, winner of the 2,200m Group 1 Emirates Championship, is also drawn wide and will be starting from Stall 15 under Tadhg O’Shea.
“We are out in the car park,” said O’Shea, who will be sporting the silks of Lemartinel’s main patron, UAE President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. “The only positive about Stall 15 is the two inside us, RB Burn and Muraaqib are probably the two to beat so hopefully I can track them.
“She shows her best form at Abu Dhabi and stays further so, hopefully, they will go quick and her stamina can come into play. We should be staying on strongly.”
Muraaqib, owned by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, is trained in France by Francois Rohaut who has saddled the same owner’s Handassa — the winner of the Al Maktoum Challenge R3 in each of the past two seasons. Retained jockey Jim Crowley will ride Muraaqib for a second time and it will be interesting to see how they go about their business.
Champion Jockey, Richard Mullen is confident about his chances aboard Shateh, trained by Jean de Roualle for Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mansour Al Nahyan.
“He is a nice horse and seems in good form. It is, obviously, a very good race but we have drawn well and should be thereabouts,” said Mullen.
The only thoroughbred race on the card, The UAE Martyrs Cup, a conditions contest over the same 1,600m, has also attracted a strong field of 16, including last year’s winner Shamal Nibraas.
The Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) will feature 14 female jockeys from around the globe and they chase the world champion title in this 1,600m prestige race with a prize fund of Dh200,000.
Before the ladies championship, the HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice Jockey Championship (IFAHR) final will be run over 1,600 metres, a Prestige race with a prize fund of Dh150,000. The festival will also see feature the Shaikha Lateefa Bint Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan International Pony race.
Racecard
UAE Martyrs Trophy
5pm, PA, maiden 1,600m, Dh80,000
Wathba Stallions Cup For Private Owners Only
5.30pm PA, handicap, 1200m, Dh80,000
UAE Martyrs Cup
6pm, TB, conditions, 1,600m, Dh125,000
HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Apprentice Jockey Championship
6.30pm, PA, prestige, 1,600m, Dh150,000
HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship
8pm, PA, prestige, 1,600m, Dh200,000
Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown
8.30pm, PA, Group 1, 1,600m €1,200,000
