3 minute read
Six races at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club on Monday are arguably highlighted by the finale and only Thoroughbred race on the card, a 2400m handicap, in which Celestial Spheres is seeking to follow up his course and distance victory of five weeks ago.
Trained by Ismail Mohammed, the 8yo gelded son of Redoute's Choice runs in the colours of Millennium Stables, the trainer's Meydan base, and will on this occasion be partnered by Pat Cosgrave, replacing apprentice Gary Sanchez who has been in the saddle for the gelding's three appearances thus far this season.
Mohammed also saddles Ahesto Bero, having just his fifth start for the trainer. Runner-up on his first start for the handler, in a Meydan handicap over 2000m on turf in the middle of January last year, he has not built on that but looks well worth this first try at Abu Dhabi and Omani apprentice Saif Al Balushi claims a valuable 1.5kgs.
Meanwhile, Sanchez rides Welford for Helal Alalawi but the 9yo Dubawi gelding has struggled in his five runs for current connections and has not won since scoring over 2200m on dirt at Meydan in March 2019.
There may only be seven runners but it looks competitive nonetheless and a case can be made for each of the septet, including Rakeez for Bhupat Seemar and Tadhg O'Shea, Shadwell's Mudaarab, to be ridden by Dane O'Neill for Erwan Charpy, as well as Gareth, trained by Ahmad bin Harmash and the mount of Ray Dawson.
The best of the Purebred Arabian action is a 1600m handicap in which O'Shea partners Af Majalis for his main employer, Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda and the Champion Owner's principal trainer Ernst Oertel.
Homebred, he was a comfortable winner, over 1200m, here at Abu Dhabi a fortnight ago but is also a winner over Monday's 1600m course and distance.
Another arriving on the back of a comfortable victory is Al Ajban Stables' Oss, to be saddled by Abdallah Al Hammadi. However, that success was on dirt at Al Ain, over 1600m, and his two previous turf outings have been disappointing.
The Jaci Wickham-trained Al Ajeeb W'Rsan looks a threat, although behind AF Majalis last time, but will likely appreciate stepping up to 1600m.
Salem Al Ketbi fields three of the capacity field of 16 with Richard Mullen opting to partner Taajer who will need to overcome a wide draw in stall 14.
For Shadwell and arguably one of the most interesting runners on the card, John Hyde saddles local and turf debutant Mumayyez who ran just twice in Britain, on the all-weather both times.
Beaten just a neck over 1400m on his debut, he then won by the same margin over 2000m and arrives here totally unexposed for a trainer enjoying a great first season with a licence, saddling one winner from his first five runners. That was courtesy of Haqeeqy last Monday in the Listed HH The President Cup for Thoroughbreds, partnered by Dane O'Neill who is aboard Mumayyez here.
This will be Hyde's first Purebred Arabian runner and just the third individual horse he will have saddled to date in his fledgling training career.
Others to consider in another competitive heat include Ibrahim Al Hadhrami trio Duc De Faust, Inato De Carrere and Ares De Gion , to be ridden by Fernando Jara, Antonio Fresu and Sandro Paiva respectively.
The mount of Royston Ffrench, JAP Almahfuz also deserves a mention for Irfan Ellahi and he is well drawn in four for a horse that likes to race prominently.
