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| Sumita Pawar |
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This Sunday, the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown will take place at Abu Dhabi, marking the end of the Sheikh Mansoor Arabian Racing Festival and the International Arabian racing year. The race boasts an impressive 5,000,000 AED prize pot, with international contenders facing tough competition from some of the best turf horses from the UAE. Analyst Rory Joshua has studied the field of 16 runners who will take on the challenge.
ABBES has won six of his last seven starts, with three of those victories at the highest level. He was defeated only once, finishing second to Ch’ezza in The President Of The UAE Cup at Longchamp. He managed to get the better of that rival more recently, but it's surprising that he hasn't been seen since his victory in August. Nonetheless, he is fresh for this race and a leading contender given the strength of his form in Qatar last winter.
AJRAD ATHBAH was not impressive in France or in the UAE last season, but gradually improved during a busy campaign and landed a Group One victory on his final outing in the Emirates Championship. He looked to have improved again in the prep for this race, chasing home Barakka, and should at least reverse form with that rival. However, he will need another step up to tackle international competition.
BARAKKA produced a series of impressive performances in defeat on dirt last season, most notably when finishing second to Hayyan in the Kahayla Classic. He answered some questions when scoring on his return in the prep for this event, proving that he could be just as good on turf. Although a couple of his adversaries from that race are now 4kg better off, he could still step up again, given that he is only eight runs into his career.
FIRST CLASSS won this race last year, defeating Lady Princess, and has a top-level success on dirt (Kahayla Classic). He is one of the toughest and most durable Arabians in recent history, but has not managed to win in 2023 yet, and a couple of performances have suggested that his star doesn't shine quite as bright. A switch to champion UAE trainer, Doug Watson, could revive his fortunes.
MUJEEB was only just finding his feet when finishing eighth in this race 12 months ago. He subsequently won the HH The President Cup and finished second in the Emirates Championship. Although he had to shoulder a 4kg penalty in the prep, his third-place finish was still a good run. He will need the cards to drop right given the way he is ridden, but there is a suspicion that he could raise his game still further.
RB KINGMAKER won two legs of the triple crown here last season and finished fourth to Al Ghadeer in the French Derby in France over the summer, albeit beaten by a respectable distance. His midfield effort in the prep was quiet enough, but most runners from the stable have needed their first outing, so it will have served a purpose. He is likely to advance his rating of 114 at some point this season.
HAMEEM started last season well, winning the prep for this race before finishing third in the main event itself. However, his prep run this time around wasn't as inspiring, particularly at a time when his stable is in such good form. It's suspected that he will come up just short at the highest level, as he has done in the past.
JOE STAR was one of the leading four-year-olds from last season, winning the second round of the Triple Crown before finishing second (to RB Kingmaker) in the third leg. He had a perfectly acceptable prep run when finishing fifth behind Barakka while carrying a small Gr3 penalty. However, as with several younger horses before him in this race, he looks up against it when taking on the older generation.
CH'EZZA is yet to finish out of the first three in seven starts, winning a Group One at Longchamp in May. He arguably produced better performances in defeat, notably when finishing third in the Arabian World Cup on his final start. His form ties in closely with several of his rivals, making him well in the mix, particularly with the promise of more to come.
DIAMOND GEM AA is an ex-American import who will be having his first start for Ernst Oertel. He arrives in the UAE on the back of two down-the-field efforts in France, but he has excuses. He was a Group one winner earlier in the year, so he clearly has plenty of ability. The big question is whether he can transfer that American dirt form to the turf.
MUTBAHY ATHBAH has won half of his six career starts. He posted a career-best when landing a Group One at Toulouse last time, with Elaf in behind. That was by no means a strong race for the grade, but he's still only four years old, so it's reasonable to assume that he can raise his game still further, which he will need to do to compete in this company where others clearly have more appeal.
NADELSHIBA earned her spot in the race when finishing fourth in the prep, which was by no means a bad effort considering she had a Group Three penalty for her Al Ain Mile win last season. However, the suspicion remains that she is better at that sort of shorter trip. This is emphasized by the fact that connections were keen to also run her in the Bani Yas over 1400m at Meydan last weekend. This race might tax her stamina reserves.
ELAF doesn't have the best win record in the world but doesn't often run a bad race. She hit the frame in Gr1s on each of her last four starts. She has since transferred to the local yard of Eric Lemartinel, who will need to eke out a bit more out of her if she is to feature.
NOUR AL MAURY is an intriguing runner having won five of her six starts. She was the best of the 4YO French fillies in the Group One Qatar Arabian Trophy last time, ahead of Thakeera Al Shahania. That was her fourth win at the highest level on the spin, so she can’t be underestimated. However, she now faces the boys for the first time.
RAJEH is the elder statesman of the party, aged nine. He has looked as good as ever this summer in France, finishing fourth in a pair of Gr1s at Longchamp. He was based here when only eighth in this race 12 months ago, so he could better that effort given a change of scenery has clearly had an effect. However, it's still unrealistic to expect him to prevail at this lofty level.
NTHAKEERA AL SHAHANIA is a UK-based runner who represents a stable that won this in 2019 with Mashhur Al Khalediah. As it stands, she is some way short of the level that one brought into the race. However, she has only had five starts and could still improve. She is a likely front-runner, and it will be interesting to see if she can be reeled in.