By Duane Fonseca
It’s National Day weekend all across the country and while the UAE celebrates turning 51 during the long weekend, the racing fraternity has its hands full with racing at four of five venues during each of the days reserved as a holiday. That can only mean one thing for racegoers: a weekend full of excitement.
And not to be left behind are Al Ain, who host a seven race all Purebred Arabian card worth a whopping Dh760,000. The major chunk, over half of the total amount being offered, Dh450,000, has been spread out evenly over three contests.
And perhaps the best among the trio is the conditions race that will be contested over an 1800m trip, where revenge is likely to be on the agenda for Jean-Claude Pecout’s Jugurtha De Monlau, whose seasonal debut saw him finish five lengths behind in fourth in a course and distance run here three weeks ago in race won by Abdullah Al Hammadi’s Oss, who lines up here as well.
Jugurtha De Monlau’s first two starts did not help his cause much, but the 6yo does have a Group One triumph to show on his CV when comfortably ousting Brraq in the Al Maktoum Challenge R3 on Super Saturday in March.
While the benefit of a first run should help him make some progress, Oss, despite his significantly lower rating, might be the one to beat here as he looks for a third straight track and trip win, one that should help him forget the defeat suffered on his upping in class in the PA Group 2 Madjani Stakes last Friday at Meydan. All of the 5yo Valiant Boy entire’s five wins have been gained in the oasis city and Al Hammadi will be relishing the prospect of him running here.
Ibrahim Al Hadhrami dispatches Heros De Lagarde, who was third on his first start this term in the PA Group 2 Bani Yas, a race in which Gold Silver, who runs here in the 1000m conditions event, finished fifth. Trained by Ibrahim Aseel, Gold Silver made progress when out next two weeks ago finishing a narrow second in a 1200m handicap on turf at Abu Dhabi, with his handler perhaps depending on his form from the previous years, when he won a maiden over course and distance and then a 1400m contest, to see him through this assignment.
A fortnight ago Ernst Oertel’s AF Thayer turned up the victor ahead of Gold Silver and even though that was on turf, the South African won’t be too bothered about his trainee’s chances on dirt as the AF Alsalaam entire has a course and distance win to hid name, as well as two other sprint distance successes secured on dirt at Sharjah.
Abdelaziz Daoud’s Marmara XM could be another potent candidate and is one in one over track and trip in a similar event. Looking to the 2000m conditions race, the third of those carrying the Dh150,000 prize fund, and Kalifano De Ghazal, trained by Helal Alalawi, looks solid on paper but might need the benefit of a run to really stretch himself out, with his only UAE success being gained in a 1800m maiden here in January a race he won by nine and a quarter lengths.
Alalawi’s ward will be joined in the starting stalls by Ajrad Athbah, who flies the flag for Majed Al Jahoori’s yard. A newcomer to the UAE this season, Ajrad Athbah like his rival has a 1800m maiden win to show on his resume and is likely to build from that Friday night.
SELECTIONS
Race 1: Heba r
Race 2: Jad Al Wathba
Race 3: Yas Xmnsor (Nap)
Race 4: Jugurtha De Monlaur
Race 5: Muraqib
Race 6: AF Tahan
Race 7: Mumayaza (NB)
