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| Staff Writer |
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Racing at Al Ain on Saturday is highlighted by a 2000m conditions race for which ten have been declared, including Jugurtha De Monlau who has a lofty official rating of 105 suggesting he could be the one to beat.
To be ridden by Fernando Jara, Yas Racing’s 6yo is trained by Jean-Claude Pecout and will be having just his fourth local outing having made his UAE debut on this weekend last year when third at Abu Dhabi in the HH The President Cup Prep.
He was then ninth in both the Gr.1 HH The President Cup and Gr.1 Emirates Championship. This will be his first outing since the latter, in March.
A winner over 2000m on turf in France, this will actually be his dirt debut he is on trained on the Al Ain track so is certainly no stranger to the surface and he was placed on his sole appearance on an all-weather track.
For National Stables, Helal Alalawi saddles both Itchy De Nacre and Kalifano De Ghazal, the mounts of apprentice Gary Sanchez and Abdul Aziz Al Balushi respectively.
From a pair, of Ibrahim Al Hadhrami contenders for the Royal Cavalry of Oman, Antonio Fresu is aboard Salb suggesting he is their main hope over Eradah, the mount of Omani apprentice Saif Al Balushi.
Similarly, Abdallah Al Hammadi saddles both Gucci Girl and Indys Day, to be ridden by Sam Hitchcott and Richard Mullen respectively, for Al Ajban Stables.
Bernardo Pinheiro takes the ride aboard Al Wathba Racing’s Rahaal Al Wathba for Majed Al Jahoori. Pinheiri won a maiden over 1800m at Al Ain in early November and the horse was also ‘first past the post’ over the same course and distance in January 2020 only to be disqualified subsequently.
The only Thoroughbred contest is the concluding 2600m handicap in which nine are due to face the starter, the weights headed by Knockacullion, to be partnered by Tadhg O’Shea for Bhupat Seemar.
His sole success to date was on his final outing in the UK, over 1600m on the Southwell fibresand, in September 2019.
Apprentice Sean Kirrane, based with Seemar at Zabeel Stables, rides the trainer’s second runner, Al Watan, a maiden after eight starts, four for Godolphin and Saeed bin Suroor, before switching to the UAE.
Doug Watson is also doubly represented, Sam Hitchcott seemingly preferring the chances of Poet’s Mind over those of stable companion Obeyaan is will have the assistance of Richard Mullen.
Another handler with two chances is Helal Alalawi for whom apprentice Gary Sanchez partners Falcon Claws, having his second start for the trainer having left Doug Watson and Arabian Moon.
Abdul Aziz Al Balushi rides the second Al Alawi runner, Arabian Moon, who actually won over this course and distance last February. That remains the 5yo gelding’s only success after 19 starts.
Salem bin Ghadayer enjoyed a double at Jebel Ali last Saturday so his Talo merits respect with the yard in good form. That said, Talo, a 4yo gelding by Orb and to be ridden by Royston Ffrench, remains a maiden after ten starts. Four of his six outings this season have resulted in heavy defeats, including over 2200m at Meydan, the longest trip he as tackled to date.