Abu Dhabi: The feature event at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club on Sunday, the Group 3 Arabian Triple Crown Round two over 2200m for four-year-old Purebred Arabians, will witness a three-pronged contest between the winners of the first round.
The first round over the listed 1600m was clinched by Sniper De Monlau, ridden by apprentice Hector Crouch for The National Stables-based trainer Helal Al Alawi. Sniper De Monlau, in the opening leg had got the better of Cloe De Faust trained by Eric Lemartinel and ridden by Tadhg O’Shea by half a length. Cheik Roque trained by Erwan Charpy and saddled by David Probert was third.
However, Sniper De Monlau will this time around be carrying a penalty and though it will be a test to make it count over the longer strip, Crouch was upbeat about his chances.
“He ran very well first time and improved a lot for that experience. This will be tougher, but hopefully he will stay the extra distance and at least go close,” said Crouch, whose mount on debut was second to RV Moulins Monarch in the Listed Abu Dhabi Championship over a similar 1600m. Trained at Arkan Stables by Hassan Al Hammadi, RV Moulins Monarch is also among the starters.
He, however, under a penalty, couldn’t impress at all and was only seventh behind Sniper De Monlau when they met again in the opening round. Despite that, the experienced Dubai World Cup winning jockey Fernando Jara has kept full faith on RV Moulins Monarch for this race.
“He was a bit disappointing last time,” acknowledged Jara, adding, “He is better than that and can hopefully bounce back to form.”
Out of the eight runners, three belong to President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Apart from Cloe De Faust, Al Asayl Stables-trainer Lemartinel is pinning hopes on stable companions Mahbooba and Meydan Du Paon.
The season’s leading jockey O’Shea, who will be on Cloe De Faust, a winner on debut before finishing fifth in the Abu Dhabi Championship, said about his chances: “She meets both Sniper de Monlau and RV Moulins Monarch on better terms here and looks likely to appreciate the extra 600m. She was staying on well last time. She is a nice filly and should be competitive in an open race.”
Stable companions Mahbooba, who will be ridden by Richard Mullen, is a winner of her only outing to date and Gerald Avranche’s mount, Meydan Du Paon, has also won her second and most recent start.
Charpy’s Cheik Roque, after that third place behind Sniper De Monlau and Cloe De Faust in the first leg, has failed to impress in a 1600m Abu Dhabi 0-95 handicap. However, this time Charpy has opted to give Cheik Roque a run with former champion jockey Wayne Smith instead of Probert.
“His form in Europe was very good. Hopefully, the step up in trip will suit him and he has to have a big chance,” said an upbeat Smith.
In the Thoroughbred race, the Abu Dhabi Championship Prep (2200m) will see eight battle it out with major representation coming from Al Aasfa Stables-trainer Ahmad Bin Harmash — four in all. Stable jockey, Freddy Tylicki will be in charge of Georgetown, who has been third on all three previous starts this season.
It’s also worth keeping a close watch on local debutant, Khusoosy, bred by the campaign’s leading owner Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Rulder of Dubai and Minister of Finance. Groomed under former champion trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe and ridden by owner’s retained jockey Paul Hanagan, lots can be expected from Khusoosy on Sunday.
“He is a young horse with low mileage. He has been off since October but seems to be in good form and hopefully, will be thereabouts,” felt Hanagan. Satish Seemar-trained Invincible Strike also seems capable of springing in a surprise.
