Mujrayaat looks to have strong claims

Abu Dhabi: Racing returns to Abu Dhabi after a two-week break with a several interesting contests on the card.

The sole thoroughbred contest is the concluding 1,600-metre handicap, which has drawn a maximum field of 16.

The Doug Watson-trained Mujrayaat was a course and distance winner three weeks ago and looks to have a good chance of repeating the feat for the trainer, who also saddles Among Equals.

“They are both reasonably drawn and in good form at home. It was a good win from Mujrayaat last time and he should go well again, granted luck in running, which you always need in these big fields at Abu Dhabi,” he said.

“Among Equals was a close fourth over course and distance on his most recent Abu Dhabi run and should appreciate the return to turf after a run at Jebel Ali.”

Ali Rashid Al Raihe’s El Wasmi, the Musabah Al Muhairi-trained Entifaadha and Musaafer are other key runners.

However, the owner’s retained jockey, Paul Hanagan, elects to ride Mabaany, trained by Erwan Charpy, who also saddles Redemptor for the same owner.

Energia Dust, who was a promising fourth in His Highness The President’s Cup on his seasonal debut also starts.

The pick of the Purebred Arabian races appears to be a 2,200-metre handicap in which the Gill Duffield-trained Borkan Al Zobair will seek to follow up his recent Jebel Ali victory.

Al Asayl-based Ernst Oertel has enjoyed a fantastic season and has four in the race with stable jockey Tadhg O’Shea choosing to ride Al Mouttakel, a winner in November, but narrowly beaten in each of his subsequent three starts.

Eric Lemartinel and Gerald Avranche are always a pair to follow and combine with Ibn Battuta Monlau, who will appreciate the return to this course and distance over which he won three starts ago but found 1,600 metres too sharp most recently.