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NORMAL SERVICE RESUMED IN THE CAPITAL

NORMAL SERVICE RESUMED IN THE CAPITAL Dec 8, 2022

After the razzmatazz of Sunday’s National Day Cup fixture, featuring the Group 1 Jewel Crown, racing in the capital returns to what has become its normal slot, a six race card arguably highlighted by a 1600m conditions contest for 4yos. With an official rating of 104, Al Asayl’s Hakeem must hold strong claims if able to justify a lofty rating he earned in France.

The homebred colt actually arrived with a mark of 108, his last two starts, including a close second at Deauville, having been in Group One company. This will be just his sixth career outing and the extra 200m here should suit him after his local debut a month ago when seventh, albeit only beaten just over four lengths in a similar contest over 1400m won by the very useful Bahar Muscat.

The latter, in the more than capable hands of Ibrahim Al Hadhrami, was a notable name missing among the entries on Monday but that may indicate he has plenty of faith in stablemate Sattam Muscat whom he trains for Naser Askar. Rated 100, he was out of his depth on his seasonal return, over 1900m on the Meydan dirt in the Group 2 Madjani Stakes but is returning to arguably his optimum conditions here.

A course and distance winner on debut in the middle of November last year, he has not scored again but has finished third in Listed, Group Three and Group Two company. Those last two races were over a lot further and stamina did not appear an issue but this looks a good spot for him. Helal Alalawi, especially by his standards, has made a relatively slow start to the campaign but his turf debutant RB Bradley Nelson is surely better than he has been able to show in his two local outings, both at Al Ain and including just last Friday.

A 1200m Grade Three winner in his native US and placed at the same level over 1400m, this trip should prove a lot more suitable than the 1800m he has twice tackled at Al Ain. Pick Six players face a tricky conundrum with question marks about so many of the seemingly main protagonists so penalised duo AF Mualami and Tabasheer enter the equation for Hamad Al Hamar and Ahmad bin Harmash respectively.

Receiving weight from most of his rivals ES Lattam, trained on the track at Sharjah, is another one worthy of a mention having finished just behind AF Mualami, but a place in front of Hakeem, on his penultimate start. If that is a tricky race for those playing the Pick Six, the only Thoroughbred contest is bordering on impossible; a first 2yo race of the season on turf, the 1600m is to be contested by ten, mostly debutants or raced just once previously.

Of those to have raced, they hardly set the world alight, Mr Precocious arguably showing the most promise. Of those gracing the track for the first time, Al Arbed, one of four in the race for Bhupat Seemar, makes the most appeal. Hampered as the stalls opened on debut, he then blew start next time and connections will be hoping he can make it third time lucky when the gates open. It looked significant that Doug Watson only entered Seraj, beaten the best part of 20 lengths over 1400m on the dirt at Meydan a fortnight ago.

SELECTIONS

Race 1: SS Dostoor
Race 2: ES Sudani
Race 3: Wakeel W’Rsan
Race 4: Rasikh Al Reef
Race 5: ES Lattam (NB)
Race 6: Al Arbed (Nap)


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