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| Staff Writer |
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Maitha Alsuwaidi's AF Yabarhin will capture everyone's attention as the 16-horse field enters the gates for a chance to win the majority of the AED100,000 prize in the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Cup. This race has been designated as the main event on Sunday afternoon's six-race card at the Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club.
The 6YO full son of AF Alsalaam, AF Yabarhin, dealt a harsh blow to sprint expert RB Money Maker on his seasonal bow when denying him a second win in as many starts over the 1000m strip at Al Ain. With the joint highest rating of 90, AF Yabarhin blitzed the field to finish four-and-a-quarter lengths ahead of RB Money Maker. Despite never running there, the Sharjah surface should suit his chances as he arrives well-rested after his success at Al Ain on 1st December, which was his second at the venue.
Also rated 90 are Ibrahim Al Hadhrami-schooled Barghash and Muram, who represents Jaber Bittar’s yard. Barghash runs in the command of in-form rider and UAE jockeys’ standings leader Connor Beasley, while Muram (Abdul Aziz Al Balushi) shed his maiden tag on the same day as Barghash over C&D last November.
Ernst Oertel is responsible for four, with champion jockey Tadhg O’Shea’s decision to pick AF Marmuq drawing attention to the 5YO AF Albahar entire. Majed Al Jahoori’s Asmaa Al Wathba (Bernardo Pinheiro) has won half of her four starts and finished behind teammate Bassam Al Wathba in the HH The Crown Prince of Sharjah Cup.
The Sheikh Mansoor Cup is one of five Purebred Arabian contests on a programme. The other maiden contest also involving UAE bred horses, Longines Spirit Flyback follows the first handicap of the afternoon, Longines Master Collection. Completing the Purebred Arabian side of things is the Longines Spirit Zulu Time handicap.
As is tradition at Sharjah, Thoroughbreds bring the curtains down on the afternoon and it is for the honours in the Longines Conquest 0-75 handicap over 2000m that 16 go to post. Bhupat Seemar’s Perfect Balance Andrew Slattery is clearly the top pick in the group, having beaten Ahmad bin Harmash’s highly-progressive Al Jaddaf on opening day at a similar level over a 1700m strip.