Another Abu Dhabi meeting with full fields left right and centre with the Thoroughbred handicap taking main stage this week, a 75- 95 handicap over 1400m. This could be the day for Mcmanaman to score as he drops in grade and is better than his form figures would imply. He had far more in front of him than behind in carnival company last time but that was very messy race won by Taamol and if the gaps open up here, he could be hard to beat.
A mark of 95 is also the upper limit for the main Arabian handicap of the day and this may see JL Ed Faust return to winning ways. A winner on debut when beating RB Kingmaker who has won a Listed race since, JL Ed Faust lost little in defeat behind Unleashed next time before looking to find things happening too quickly for him the last twice, particularly over 1200m recently.
If he can keep in touch early on that he may run down AF Layth late on who will appreciate the return to turf and remains in form having been runner-up twice at the track in February. Muraqib is worth keeping an eye on in the 0-80 handicap over 1600m as he still has few miles on the clock and should appreciate this easier grade.
A winner on debut, his first two runs saw him contest conditions events this season before finishing down the field in a better handicap than this at Al Ain more recently. He now tackles turf for the first time, another thing that should help. The other handicap is for the private owners and ES Nahaam could be the one in this. Hailing from a yard that has emerged on the scene this season, ES Nahaam is no star but has run a series of good races in similar events and won’t need to step up too much on those efforts to win here.
CAN OERTEL DO IT AGAIN?
Ernst Oertel was unstoppable at the last Abu Dhabi meeting and his class dropping AF Yenomes looks of particular interest and he will be even more dangerous if allowed an easy lead. There are two maidens on the card and the first of them may see Talaaqy hard to beat. She didn’t seem to appreciate the dirt on her debut but showed far more of what she is about when fourth to Mizna in a similar event here in December.
The form of that race is solid rather than spectacular but it is worth noting that the second (Al Fallak) did chase home the very useful RB Stryngs Attached subsequently and Talaaqy will only need to produce something similar to oblige here.
SELECTIONS
Race 1: Talaaqy (Nap)
Race 2: AF Rami
Race 3: AF Al Sanaa
Race 4: Muraqib
Race 5: Zafaranah (NB)
Race 6: Mcmanaman
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