Double delight for O’shea and Oertel at Al Ain meet
Racing at Sharjah Longines Racecourse on Saturday aternoon, a traditional six-race card, is highlighted by the 1700m The Ruler Of Sharjah Cup, a Prestige contest for horses foaled in the UAE won in 2018 by AF Maher, subsequent winner of the 2019 Group 1 Kahayla Classic on the Dubai World Cup card at Meydan
He was saddled by Ernst Oertel for Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda and the pair have two chances this year with the owner’s retained jockey, Tadhg O’shea, opting to partner AF Soqrat. Homebred, the 5-year-old entire shed his maiden tag, at the fith atempt, on his latest start in a 1400m Jebel Ali maiden, staying on strongly up the steep incline.
Gerald Avranche partners’ stablemate AF Nashrah, also bred by Al Nabooda and with a sole victory to her name, the 5-year-old mare having landed a 1400m maiden on the Al Ain dirt three starts ago. That was in October on her seasonal debut.
O’shea, seeking to a seventh win in ten years in the race, said: “These choices are never easy, but the way AF Soqrat stayed on up the Jebel Ali hill suggested the 1700m at Sharjah will suit him, but on ratings, he has plenty to find.”
And on those official ratings alluded to, Jawaal is undoubtedly the one to beat, Jim Crowley riding for Al Wathba Racing and Majed Al Jahoori.
Unbeaten at Sharjah, ater two 1200m victories in Prestige contests in consecutive weeks last December, the homebred 5-yearold entire’s only defeat on dirt was in his latest start. That was in the 1600m Group 2 Mazrat Al Ruwayah when never able to land a blow, finishing eighth.
Crowley said: “I have only ridden the horse once before, winning the Emirates Colts Classic about a year ago on turf at Abu Dhabi. He clearly handles Sharjah well and the trip should suit, so I am looking forward to geting back on him in what looks a good opportunity.”
Eric Lemartinel saddles two with Fabrice Veron electing to partner Dhafra for Sheikh Mohd Bin Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, leaving the spare ride on stable companion, Maqam, for Antonio Fresu, the man aboard AF Maher when he landed this in 2018.
Both Lemartinel runners were behind Jawaal in the 1200m Crown Prince Of Sharjah in the middle of December, Dhafra faring much the beter of the pair in second, Maqam beating just one of their 11 rivals.
A 5-year-old mare, Dhafra actually beat fellow debutant Jawaal when making a winning start to her career, in a 1400m maiden, on the Abu Dhabi turf in November 2019.
The only Thoroughbred race, the concluding 2000m handicap, appears typically competitive with a capacity field of 16 declared to face the starter.
Skygazer, joined in the field by Ali Rashid Al Rayhi-trained stable companion Mears, is the only course and distance winner in the field.
The mount of Sandro Paiva, the 9-year-old Echo Of Light gelding is actually unbeaten ater three starts over this track and trip, most recently 53 weeks ago.
Meanwhile, Sharjah debutant Mears, a 7-year-old Street Cry gelding and the mount of Royston Ffrench, is a 1900m winner at Meydan and a dual Al Ain scorer over 2000m, all on dirt.
Doug Watson is also well represented, saddling three with Crowley aboard Maqaadeer for his main employer, Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum ((Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance).
Stable jockey Pat Dobbs is aboard Rougher with Sam Hitchcot to partner Watson’s third runner, Cosmo Kramer.
Both Obeyaan and Miniaturist arrive having won their most recent starts, for Mujeeb Rahman at Jebel Ali and Ahmed Al Shemaili at Al Ain respectively, so are clearly in good heart and just two more to consider in a typically wide open Sharjah Thoroughbred contest.
AL AIN: The traditional seven races at Al Ain on Friday evening, a meeting highlighted by the 1800m Al Ain Derby, a Prestige contest for 4-year-olds foaled in the UAE and won in determined fashion by AF Mahzamy under a positive Tadhg O’shea for his main employer, Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda and trainer Ernst Oertel.
Inaugurated in 2016, the owner and trainer became the first dual winners of the prize they also landed in 2017 with AF Taraha, partnered by Antonio Fresu.
Having stalked the leader, Sawt Assalam, O’shea drove his mount, a homebred colt having just his second start, to take the lead with about 550m remaining and found a resolute partner, initially seeing off a renewed challenge from that rival, then always holding late bids presented by Fahd Al Wathba and then ES Rahmani who snatched second close home.
One of eight maidens in a field of 11, AF Mahzamy was well beaten on his only previous start, a 1400m Al Ain maiden, but clearly benefited from the extra distance and experience gained on that debut 34 days ago, completing a rapid 1800m double on the card for connections in the process.
Also over 1800m, the meeting kicked off with a handicap for horses in private ownership and, like so many such races, O’shea partnered the winner for Al Nabooda and Oertel.
Having setled AF Yahawa in third, behind stable companion AF Taraha, Pharitz Al Denari and early leader, Inthar, O’shea went in pursuit of the leader early in the straight. The pair were soon dueling, with Inthar unable to repel the determined O’shea drive.
Homebred, the 6-year-old entire was doubling his career and course tally having won a 1600m Al Ain maiden in November 2019. This was just his second outing of the season having finished fourth over this 1800m course and distance at the end of October on his previous racecourse appearance.
Oertel said: “He just had a litle problem ater his last start, so we have had to be patient with him and, I admit, we were a bit worried about his fitness ater so long off, but he is a tough, consistent horse.
For horses foaled in the UAE, a 1400m maiden, was dominated by trainer Abdallah Al Hammadi, already enjoying his best ever season and saddling winner number 18 for the campaign with Jesus Rosales and Odessy denying Fernando Jara aboard stable companion Ortagon. It had appeared Jara had timed his challenge to perfection, hiting the front entering the final 200m, only to be headed with about 75m remaining by Rosales’ mount, losing her maiden tag at the third atempt having never threatened in either previous start, both over 1600m, here at Al Ain and then on the Abu Dhabi turf. Both first and second are owned by Al Ajban Stables, as have been all the Al Hammadi winners this season.