 |
|
| Staff Writer |
 |
On Thursday evening, Abu Dhabi is hosting an exciting card that offers something for everyone. In one of the featured races, 4YO Purebred Arabians will compete in the UAE Arabian Derby, aiming to establish their dominance. Additionally, a group of highly pedigreed thoroughbred juveniles will battle it out in the finale, hoping to prove themselves worthy contenders for the upcoming Classic year.
The UAE Arabian Derby, now classified as Listed status, will showcase a field of 13 strong horses, with Joe Star, a Jewel Crown alumnus trained by Helal Alalawi, leading the pack. Joe Star's fifth-place finish in the Jewel Crown prep on his seasonal debut is by far the standout form in this race. Cristian Demuro will be partnering with Joe Star for this race.
Bahwan, rated second-highest in the race at a mark of 108, is coming off a successful introduction to racing in the UAE in mid-November, where he left behind seven of his competitors. He looked in need of a step up in trip after a one-paced ninth in the Group Three National Day Cup, and the 2200m distance in the UAE Arabian Derby should suit him well based on his Polish form.
French transfer Bilal De Monlau, trained by Saifaldeen Deeb and ridden by Richard Mullen, will also compete in the race, looking to secure his first win in his fifth career start. The duo of Mullen and Deeb had opened their respective accounts for the season on National Day weekend at Al Ain, and they will be hoping to continue their success with Bilal De Monlau.
RB Stryngs Attached, trained by Fawzi Nass, is making a comeback after a sub-par effort on the dirt at Al Ain in his seasonal debut, and he will be returning to the track where he secured his maiden win.
The sole thoroughbred contest, taking place over 1400m, will wrap up Abu Dhabi's fourth meeting of the season. This race will provide juveniles with their first opportunity to showcase their skills on the turf this season. The turnout for this race has pleased the Condition Book makers, who had two substitute races ready as backup.
One of the most notable horses in the field is Point Given, a blue-blooded colt who will mark the first runner in the UAE for owner Saeed Suhail since Poet's Word ran in the 2018 Dubai Sheema Classic. It's important not to confuse him with the 2001 American Horse of the Year who shares the same name. Point Given, who is sired by the exceptional Blue Point, comes from a family of multiple Group-race winners such as Toormore and Estidhkaar, so expectations for him have always been high. Perhaps Zabeel has always been his destiny.
Ramaah, another well-bred colt, will also be competing in the race. Trained by Ismail Mohammed and sired by Arc winner Waldgeist, Ramaah will be looking to shed his maiden tag after a couple of unplaced efforts back in the UK.
The remaining horses in the field still have something to prove based on their trial runs or initial form, but they could surprise us with their performance. Ra's Al Hadd, for instance, was always going to struggle on the dirt given his all-turf pedigree, and the switch to turf for him looks like a welcome move.
The six-race card also includes a couple of maidens and handicaps ranging from a mile to 2200m. The opening contest, a mile maiden for the 3YOs, is a wide-open race with newcomers Al Dinari, King De Flauzins, and Kokin De Faust making a strong appeal. In the second race, a similar mile maiden, Alwasl could be a strong contender after staying on best in a 1400m maiden earlier in the season and should relish the extra furlong here.