IN-FORM CHAVEZ SET FOR MORE AL AIN GLORY

By Suleiman Altaf - 

Panamanian jockey Oscar Chavez enjoyed a fantastic four-timer at Al Ain last week and he has bagged another impressive book of rides for this week’s seven-race programme. The man of the moment returns to the scene of his heroics this weekend looking to steer Megtah Albahar into the winner’s enclosure in the feature event, the AED 85,000 1400m handicap for Purebred Arabians (rated 0-90). The Helal Alalawi trainee has been knocking on the doors of late with a fourth behind JAP Hadad in a 1000m Conditions event from two weeks back at this track setting the benchmark high for this handicap.

He was beaten by the same rival at Abu Dhabi prior to that over 1200m and on both occasions, he has looked outpaced in the heat of the race so the step up in trip should enhance his winning credentials. The aforementioned sprint Conditions affair Al Ain is also put to the test by three more runners, all of whom finished adrift of Megtah Albahar. The ever so consistent AF Man’oot was only half a length behind the former that day and is 1kg better off at the weights this time with apprentice Allia Tiar booked in the saddle.

Al Neyadi’s trainee shed his maiden tag over this trip in a maiden at Jebel Ali so he too should benefit from the extra yards. Similarly, AF Yabarhin was also beaten by similar margins and has a handy allowance from apprentice Qais Al Busaidi’s booking who also rode him to success in a strong Conditions event earlier in the season where he got the better of subsequently dual Group winner Heros De Legardere. Recent five-length course and distance maiden winner Kaval De Ghazal also makes the field. The Ibrahim Al Hadhrami pupil graduated at the fourth time of asking and has been competing against some useful compatriots of his generation.

Then there is the representative from the in-form Jaber Bittar’s yard in Najih. Richard Mullen picks up the ride aboard the four-year-old who was last seen finishing third at Meydan in a similar setup over a mile. He hit the front early but was soon vulnerable inside the final furlong before hanging on for third. A stiffer 1400m at Al Ain, though, could play to his strengths. Sniper Du Loup (Connor Beasley) in the opening 2000m maiden looks a strong customer to best. Trained by Al Hadhrami, the four-year-old was a fine third in a similar maiden last week behind AF Estatha. Apart from Zaeem, who finished a staying-on fourth over an inadequate mile on debut last week, there is not much depth in the race so Sniper Du Loup looks well poised for shedding his maiden tag at the third attempt. The filly and mare maiden over a mile is a wide-open contest.

Al Asayl debutante Kahaylah (Richard Mullen) will have plenty of backers given her strong pedigree and her trainer Dennis O’Brien’s fine record with newcomers. She faces a full batch of 14 on her racecourse bow including Musabbeh Al Mheiri’s RB Rama (Connor Beasley) who was an eye-catching fourth on debut over 1400m in a competitive maiden and can be expected to step forward for that initial experience. Elsewhere on the card, the industrious AF Al Moreeb makes his third appearance at Al Ain in as many weeks in the 1800m handicap for 0-75 rated Purebred Arabians while 13 assemble for the local bred four-year-old only 1600m maiden. Two other handicaps, a 0-75 rated 1400m event and the closing 1000m contest for 0-80 rated horses, complete the proceedings for Sunday’s fixture.