Abu Dhabi: Thoroughbreds take centrestage at Abu Dhabi on Sunday with the ultra competitive Al Reem Island handicap attracting a maximum field of 16 runners.
Doug Watson, fresh from a treble at Jebel Ali on Friday, will be hoping Udabaa can repeat his victory of 12 months ago. “Conditions clearly suit him and he has improved a lot from his first run of the season on the opening day at Jebel Ali,” said Watson. “He had already had a run when winning this last season and the horses are running well on the whole.”
“He should be competitive in what looks a tough race.”
Watson also saddles Mujrayaat, the mount of Sam Hitchcott and Dr Faustus, to be ridden by Pat Dobbs and giving the trainer a strong hand.
Also triple handed is Satish Seemar with stable jockey, Richard Mullen, choosing to ride Antinori.
“He ran well enough on his reappearance,” said Mullen. “That was on dirt and this return to turf should suit him. We have a reasonable draw in eight and he should go well but it looks a very competitive heat.”
Stable apprentice, Marc Monaghan, rides Burdlaz with David Smith on Seemar’s third runner, Royal Revival.
The remainder of the card is restricted to the Purebred Arabians with the most valuable of five contests being the Al Rawdah handicap.
Champion Trainer, Ernst Oertel, is responsible for three of the eleven declarations with Richly Blessed looking the main hope under Champion Jockey, Tadhg O’Shea.
