Contested over 1700m in 2017, when introduced to the calendar and also the following year, the three most recent renewals of the Dh200,000 HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup have been staged over 2000m. However, the only Thoroughbred contest on the card is now a 1200m sprint and the conditions race is the first half of the newly created Emirates Speed Racing Series with the second leg being the 1000m Listed Jebel Ali Sprint, up the famous hill on the course of which Sheikh Ahmed is patron.
The prize money certainly helped attract a healthy entry, including Tuz who was also given options at Meydan on the opening night of the 2023 Dubai World Cup Carnival where he was nominated for both the 1600m Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge R1 and Group 3 Dubawi Stakes, like this race over 1200m. He takes his chance at Meydan whereas Salem bin Ghadayer had Meshakel entered in the same three dirt races as well as the Ertijaal Dubai Dash on the Meydan turf.
He runs here needing to bounce back to form. Shadwell’s Ibn Malik, now a 10yo, looks capable of a big run for Musabbeh Al Mheiri in what is likely the most winnable opportunity he has faced in some tine and arguably since registering his only UAE victory in the 1200m Listed Garhoud Sprint at the beginning of December 2019.
Al Mheiri is actually well represented, also saddling the same owner’s Raaeb, as well as On The Warpath for Naser Askar. Ismail Mohammed is set to saddle Never Just A Dream for Saeed Al Tayer and, as a 3yo, the No Nay Never colt receives a very healthy weight allowance. He won half of his six starts in Britain, all on all-weather surfaces and is actually unbeaten on synthetics.
Taking on his elders at the very beginning of the year certainly appears adventurous but good look to connections. Upper Class trounced seven toiling rivals in a 1200m handicap on the Meydan dirt on his seasonal debut for Antonio Cintra Pereira. Transferred to Julio Olascoaga, but still based at Green Stables, he was then well beaten in the Listed Al Garhoud Sprint over the same track and trip.
This is a lot easier and the straight track may suit him given the exuberance he demonstrated with his scintillating victory at the beginning of November. Also with a prize fund of Dh200,000, the Purebred Arabian highlight is undoubtedly the HH The Crown Prince Of Sharjah Cup, a Prestige contest for horses foaled locally, again over 1200m.
AF Maqam appeared the one to beat for Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda and Ernst Oertel, the pair responsible for four of the initial entry, but the powerful connections in this sphere declaring only AF Marmuq, a winner twice after just four starts., including over course and distance. Homebred by Al Wathba Racing, the 4yo colt Sadiq Al Wathba, winner of a 1000m maiden here at Sharjah on his only previous racecourse appearance at the very end of October, will be partnered by Richard Mullen for Jean de Roualle. He appeals as a big danger.
SELECTIONS
Race 1: Algharbi
Race 2: Asaad
Race 3: Basem Al Wathba
Race 4: Kaddar
Race 5: Sadiq Al Wathna (NB)
Race 6: On The Warpath (Nap)
