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| Staff Writer |
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On Thursday, a distinguished group of competitors will gather for the preparation of the highly anticipated AED5m Jewel Crown race at Abu Dhabi's premier racetrack. This marks the first race of the season and brings excitement to both participants and spectators alike. Notably, the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown Prep has been elevated to Listed status. Previously, it had been run as a conditions race.
The top contender in the field is Barakka, who started his previous campaign as a maiden scorer and rose through the ranks to finish agonizingly close to winning the Dubai Kahayla Classic. While he had a crack at the Jewel Crown in mind, it remains to be seen if he can reproduce his dirt form on turf. His sole turf run resulted in a modest fifth place behind Izadi Star in the 2021 Arabian Triple Crown Round 3, making him less favorable in this race.
RB Kingmaker, who won last season's final leg of the Arabian Triple Crown series in devastating fashion, is another strong contender in the field. He went on to compete in the Group One Qatar Arabian Derby in France, where he finished fourth but was arguably beaten by Al Ghadeer, currently the best Arabian horse in the world.
Mujeeb and Ajrad Athbah, who both have a rating of 121, are also renewing their rivalry from last season. Mujeeb won the HH The President Cup comprehensively with the help of a strong early pace, but Ajrad Athbah was too strong to pass in the Emirates Championship. The race will be interesting to watch, especially if we see strong fractions recorded early on due to the likes of RB Stryngs Attached and Snan.
Hameem, last year's winner, is a consistent performer at the highest level but his optimum trip still appears to be a mile. He finished an eye-catching third in the showpiece event last year, but he will need a lot of luck to win back-to-back.
The finale on the card is a thoroughbred contest, which is over a mile and practically a prep to the Listed National Day Cup even if it does not have a title to suggest so. Tamborrada, the Jebel Ali Classic runner-up from last season, is one of the contenders in the full field of 16. He may be starting here to blow off the cobwebs, but some argue that his future lies on dirt. Another interesting candidate is Aeonian, who appears to be very well-handicapped on a mark of 93. The Arabian equivalent of the thoroughbred mile handicap has also attracted a strong field, including Al Faisal, Bel'izam, Namrood, Bshara, and RB Yas Sir, which promises to produce an exciting finish.