09 December 2022
Course specialists seeking to build on impressive Al Ain records
The traditional seven races at Al Ain on Saturday highlighted by a 1400m handicap for which 13 have been declared, including course specialist AF Ramz who shares the burden of top weight with Mascotte Al Maury, the pair attempting to concede weight to their 11 rivals.
Owned and trained by Khalifa Al Neyadi, the 8yo entire AF Ramz has six career victories to his name, all here at Al Ain and is seeking a third success over this 1400m course and distance.
His most recent visit to the winner’s enclosure was at the beginning of January after he landed a 2000m conditions contest.
In contrast, Mascotte Al Maury, a 4yo filly, is seeking to double her winning tally on just her fifth start. Her one previous success was achieved on her most recent outing, her second in the UAE and at Al Ain, when she scored over this track and trip.
Sandro Paiva, in the saddle on that occasion, maintains the partnership for Liwa Stables and Abdelaziz Daoud.
From a pair of runners to be saddled by Ernst Oertel for Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda, the owner’s retained jockey, Tadhg O’Shea, opts to partner AF Hukooma, a homebred 5yo entire also seeking a second career success on his fifth racecourse appearance.
He too is an Al Ain 1400m maiden winner, in his case opening his account at the second time of asking, in February.
Nine are due to face the starter in the only Thoroughbred contest on the card, a 1600m handicap and, again, of joint top weights, one is an Al Ain specialist: Antimo has two career victories to his name, both over 2000m here in Al Ain.
In eight visits to his favourite track, the 9yo Dubawi gelding has only finished out of the first three on one occasion but this will be the shortest trip he has faced on his Al Ain appearances.
Previously trained by Ahmed Al Shemaili, he will be making his seasonal debut for a new trainer in the form of Ahmed Al Neyadi. He also has a new jockey in Fernado Jara, a former champion in the UAE and with a Dubai World Cup success on his resume.
He will attempt to concede weight to all bar Yurman, sharing top weight with O’Shea in the saddle for Bhupat Seemar. A 5yo gelded son of Asiatic Boy, Seemar’s charge is seeking to double his career tally, his one previous success achieved in a 1600m Jebel Ali maiden in the middle of January.
Salem bin Ghadayer saddles two with Royston Ffrench seemingly preferring the chances of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum’s Kuchisabishil, seeking to shed his maiden tag at the tenth attempt. He represents powerful connections, however, so it may be significant they are persevering with him.
Xavier Ziani partners his stablemate, Flame Talon, the only 3yo in the field and also a maiden, in his case after just six starts. This will be just his fourth UAE outing but he has not appeared a natural on dirt after two Jebel Ali and one Meydan appearances.
Owned and trained by Khalifa Al Neyadi, the 8yo entire AF Ramz has six career victories to his name, all here at Al Ain and is seeking a third success over this 1400m course and distance.
His most recent visit to the winner’s enclosure was at the beginning of January after he landed a 2000m conditions contest.
In contrast, Mascotte Al Maury, a 4yo filly, is seeking to double her winning tally on just her fifth start. Her one previous success was achieved on her most recent outing, her second in the UAE and at Al Ain, when she scored over this track and trip.
Sandro Paiva, in the saddle on that occasion, maintains the partnership for Liwa Stables and Abdelaziz Daoud.
From a pair of runners to be saddled by Ernst Oertel for Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda, the owner’s retained jockey, Tadhg O’Shea, opts to partner AF Hukooma, a homebred 5yo entire also seeking a second career success on his fifth racecourse appearance.
He too is an Al Ain 1400m maiden winner, in his case opening his account at the second time of asking, in February.
Nine are due to face the starter in the only Thoroughbred contest on the card, a 1600m handicap and, again, of joint top weights, one is an Al Ain specialist: Antimo has two career victories to his name, both over 2000m here in Al Ain.
In eight visits to his favourite track, the 9yo Dubawi gelding has only finished out of the first three on one occasion but this will be the shortest trip he has faced on his Al Ain appearances.
Previously trained by Ahmed Al Shemaili, he will be making his seasonal debut for a new trainer in the form of Ahmed Al Neyadi. He also has a new jockey in Fernado Jara, a former champion in the UAE and with a Dubai World Cup success on his resume.
He will attempt to concede weight to all bar Yurman, sharing top weight with O’Shea in the saddle for Bhupat Seemar. A 5yo gelded son of Asiatic Boy, Seemar’s charge is seeking to double his career tally, his one previous success achieved in a 1600m Jebel Ali maiden in the middle of January.
Salem bin Ghadayer saddles two with Royston Ffrench seemingly preferring the chances of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum’s Kuchisabishil, seeking to shed his maiden tag at the tenth attempt. He represents powerful connections, however, so it may be significant they are persevering with him.
Xavier Ziani partners his stablemate, Flame Talon, the only 3yo in the field and also a maiden, in his case after just six starts. This will be just his fourth UAE outing but he has not appeared a natural on dirt after two Jebel Ali and one Meydan appearances.