Dazzling 16-strong Jewel Crown field lines up for richest AD race
Being contested over 2200m for the first time, this race was introduced in 2015 as a 1600m race. The first 5 editions were shared between winners trained in Abu Dhabi, a pair from France and, last year, Great Britain
The Group 1 Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown -- Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club season’s most valuable race -- is undoubtedly the highlight of racing in the capital on Friday, with a truly cosmopolitan maximum field allowed of 16 set to face the starter.
Having been introduced to the race programme in 2015 as a 1600m race, this time around the race will be contested over 2200m for the first time.
With the first five editions shared between winners trained in Qatar, Abu Dhabi, a pair from France and, last year, Great Britain, this season’s course and distance prep, was won a month ago by Richard Mullen aboard Somoud, having his first start for Al Ain-based Jean de Roualle, who has been victorious in each of his last four outings, highlighted by victory, over the 2200m Abu Dhabi track and trip, in March’s Group 1 Emirates Championship.
Of the Yas Racing-owned 6-year-old, De Roualle said: “We are drawn nine which is ok and, even though it is a very strong race, I am hoping he runs very well.
“He won the prep nicely, but has improved for that run and the extra time since. There are some top horses from around the world, but we are really hopeful of a big run.”
He was chased home in that prep by AF Al Bairaq, trained by Ernst Oertel for Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda and again to be ridden by the owner’s retained jockey, local champion Tadhg O’shea. That was arguably a career best effort from the homebred who does have a pair of victories, from just ten starts, to his credit. Both of those were on the Abu Dhabi turf, over 1600m, most recently a conditions race in March, but also the 2018 Emirates Colts Classic, a Prestige class race for 4-year-olds.
Oertel said: “He has a wide draw which is a negative and I would have preferred a lower stall, but the horse is in good form and we’ll give it a go.”
Dane O’neill is another jockey riding for the owner by whom he is retained, in his case Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and partner for Al Zahir for Ali Rashid Al Rayhi. A 7-year-old, this 2200m on the Abu Dhabi turf appears his optimum trip, having won both the Group 1 Emirates Championship and HH The President Cup over Friday’s course and distance in 2018. He followed up in the later in 2019, but had to setle for second when seeking a hat-trick in February of this year.
The 2019 Emirates Championship went to BF Mughader, ridden by Szczepan Mazur for trainer Younis Al Kalnani, but now in the care of Ibrahim Al Hadhrami and seeking a first victory since that big race success.
Eric Lemartinel won the 2016 with RB Burn and has two chances this year, both for his main patron, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan with Fabrice Veron choosing to ride Darius Du Paon. Ryan Curatolo is aboard stable companion Amwaj.
Lemartinel said: “Darius Du Paon has a good draw under his optimum conditions. Hopefully he breaks well and can get a good position.
“Amwaj is a very useful mare who likes to be ridden more patiently, so may need a bit of luck in the straight, but should run well.”
France is well represented with Elisabeth Bernard saddling both Jaazmah Athbah, for last year’s winning owners, Athbah Racing, as well as Hajres. Adrie de Vries is on the later with Royston Ffrench on the former.
Frederic Sanchez has secured the services of Antonio Fresu for the third French challenger, Hayyan and the trainer said: “I was happy with stall ten as I did not want too low or too high. It is a tough race, but we hope he can win.”
Named ater a world famous footballer, Belgian representative Messi will be saddled by Timo Keersmaekers for whom he is, remarkably, the only horse in training.
For Saudi Arabia, Saad bin Mutlaq saddles his first UAE runners with Mubasher Al Khalediah and Mutwakel Al Khalediah both making their turf debuts.
Both over 1600m, the Group 3 National Day Cup and its Thoroughbred equivalent, a Listed contest, are the main support races with the Jewel Crown, at trainers’ request, being contested later in the calendar this year.