Competitive Thoroughbred Feature In Abu Dhabi On Sunday

Abu Dhabi: The Thoroughbreds take centre stage at Abu Dhabi on Sunday, their only race on the card, the concluding 2400m handicap, the most valuable on the evening and attracting the capacity field of 14.

Autumh Pride (ERA)

The weights are headed by Celestial Spheres and trainer Ismail Mohammed has sought to offset that burden by booking apprentice Hugo Lebouc. A 7-year-old gelded son of Redoute’s Choice, he has four career victories to his name, but has yet to win locally after seven attempts, his most recent success posted over 2400m on the Lingfield all-weather in late January 2018. After two well beaten dirt outings at Jebel Ali this season, the return to turf looks in his favour and he was staying on in fifth over 2200m on his only previous visit to Abu Dhabi. Mohammed said: “Conditions look ideal for him on Sunday and he is better on turf, so we are hoping he runs well under a good apprentice.”

Erwan Charpy saddles three with stable jockey Clement Lecouevre electing to ride Cranesbill over Murray River and Blue Sovereign, the mounts of Antonio Fresu and Fabrice Veron respectively.

Blue Sovereign (ERA)

The Ali Rashid Al Rayhi team are in great form and his representative, Skygazer, is the only previous course and distance winner in the field, landing a handicap under these conditions in January 2019, the penultimate success of his eight career victories, all registered in the UAE. Stable jockey Connor Beasley rides him for the very first time. Al Rayhi said: “We had a very good weekend last week and the horses are running well. Hopefully, that continues and Skygazer is a horse always capable of a big run.” For Helal Alalawi, seasonal debutant Autumn Pride finished last season with a 2200m success here at Abu Dhabi. That was in a maiden, but the 5-year-old Teofilo entire was staying on strongly and was twice placed second over 2400m in Britain when trained by Mark Johnston. Alalawi said: “He won his only previous Abu Dhabi start, so we know the track suits and the 2400m should be ideal, so we have to be hopeful in an open contest.” East Asia, the mount of Ryan Curatolo for Mahmood Hussain, chased home Autumn Pride in that 2200m course maiden in March, his only turf outing to date. The 6-year-old Iffraaj gelding was finishing strongly, so the extra 200m should not be an issue on his third start of the current campaign. Hussain said: “We have been keen to run him on turf again and this looks ideal because he stays well, and stamina does appear his forte.” The best of the Purebred Arabian action is a 1600m rated conditions stakes for mares aged 5-years-old or older who have not won more than twice.

AF Mouthirah (ERA)

Again, a capacity field of 14 has been declared, including AF Mouthirah, the choice of Tadhg O’Shea from two runners to be saddled by Ernst Oertel for his main patron, Champion UAE Owner Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda. A homebred 6-year-old, she has won twice from ten starts having landed both of her first two career appearances, at Abu Dhabi, winning on debut in the 1400m Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic in December 2018. She followed up victory in that Prestige contest by landing another with the same status, the 1600m Emirates Fillies Classic, in February 2019. For Al Ajban Stables, Abdallah Al Hammadi saddles three with Opera, the mount of Szczepan Mazur, and Morjanah Al Reef, to be ridden by Connor Beasley, appearing to hold the strongest claims of the trio. Others to consider include Shammarah with Pat Cosgrave aboard for Al Wathba Racing and Helal Alalawi, as well as Madhawe. The latter, a maiden after three starts, is the preferred option for Fabrice Veron from two runners set to be saddled by Eric Lemartinel for HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan.

Ferdous (ERA)

Ibrahim Al Hadhrami and the Royal Cavalry of Oman are set to be represented by penalised lightly raced duo Ferduous and Raghida, both a winner once, from four and three starts respectively and another pair who certainly cannot be ruled out in a fascinating contest. (ERA)