FROM THE EDITOR adiyat racing plus.com 3 ADIYAT RACING PLUS ISSUE 792 Thursday 6th April 2023 — ALL ABOUT THE TRAINERS, WITH WATSON DESERVING AN EIGHTH! Just like we said “And they’re off!” a little over five months ago, it’s that time of the year when we prepare for our seasonal goodbyes. This Friday’s final meet at Al Ain brings the curtains down on what has been an exceptional season for those involved locally: trainers, jockeys and of course the owners. And while the UAE Jockeys and Owners Championships have been settled with 10-time winner Tadhg O’Shea going ballistic and winning an 11th title with an as yet haul of 60, a score that is 14 better than the 46 secured by his closest rival Antonio Fresu, Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda has claimed yet another success in the Owners’ division: his sixth - and fifth straight - crown so far. Ernst Oertel’s hopes of winning the Trainers’ Championship hang by a thread with the South African, currently third and five shy of leader Doug Watson, who is on 39. Oertel will have to pull the rabbit out of the hat at Al Ain on Friday and win each of the five Purebred Arabian races he has runners in and then hope Watson fails to hit the target in the only Thoroughbred contest on the card. It definitely is cutting it very close, which means if Oertel fails to win the opener, Watson goes through without having to score. The Red Stables’ supremo thoroughly deserves what will be his eighth title having worked through the pain of a seemingly debilitating hip condition all the while ensuring his horses remained in top condition. The title is a just reward for a colossal effort that saw the American handler add three Group level races, including a third Group 2 Godolphin Mile, and two Listed events to his glowing resume. As the season climaxes, Adiyat Racing Plus will cease printing until just before the start of the 2023/24 campaign, but our coverage of global racing and equestrian events will be prompt as ever across our online platforms. See you on the other side… soon! - Duane Fonseca Assistant Editor
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