Racing returns to Al Ain with seven-race card

National Stables has two horses in the fray for a card featuring 13 races

Racing returns to Al Ain for the first time this season today with a seven-race card where the only thoroughbred contest is a 1,600-metre handicap. With a prize purse of Dh70,000 for each of the seven contests — the thoroughbred race has attracted a field of 13, including a pair trained locally at the National Stables by Helal Al Alawi. Stable jockey William Lee partners Antiguan Rock, who will have his second start of the campaign, having finished ninth on his UAE debut last Saturday over 1,000 metres at Sharjah. Judged on his four British outings for Alan King, today’s 1,600 metres should be a more suitable trip.

Meanwhile, Royston Ffrench has picked up the spare ride aboard stable companion Ocean Bluff, one of two in the race set to carry the colours of the season’s current leading owner, Mohd Khalifa Al Basti. Like his stablemate, Ffrench’s mount is a maiden after five start — all in the UAE — having been unraced in Europe by Godolphin when in the care of Andre Fabre. This, his seasonal reappearance, will be his first start for Al Alawi, who will be hoping to improve the record of his new charge who has beaten just two rivals in total thus far.

“Both horses are working well, with Antiguan Rock having the benefit of that run last week,” Al Alawi said.

Al Basti also owns Arborist, one of two in the race prepared by Ali Rashid Al Rayhi, and the choice of Fernando Jara in preference to Cross Step, the mount of Olivier Doleuze.

Another trainer with two runners is Satish Seemar with Tadhg O’Shea partnering Heraldic, who has to concede weight to all his 12 rivals, including stable companion Iftitah who himself carries second top-weight.