Horse racing season in Sharjah from Saturday

sharjah — Sharjah Racecourse stages its first meeting of the new season on Saturday, following hot on the heels of Jebel Ali’s opening day on Friday.

Last season saw Sharjah provide a reliable barometer for UAE racing success with the three UAE racing champion, owner Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, trainer Doug Watson and jockey, Tadhg O’Shea, all dominating their respective categories at the track.

As usual at Sharjah, O’Shea has a strong book of rides, including Men Alemarat in the featured 2000m handicap which concludes the six-race card.

Trained by Eric Lemartinel for The President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is Snaffy, the mount of Gerald Avranche. Men Alemarat has one victory to his name, in a 2000m maiden on the Al Ain dirt. He was set some stiff tasks last season which concluded with a third in Sharjah’s biggest race of the season, the 1700m Ruler of Sharjah Trophy, a race that Shaikh Khalifa, O’Shea and Lemartinel actually won with Hamza.

That was his only visit to Sharjah to date and the performance certainly offers plenty of hope for his chances on Saturday.

“He’s a nice horse and has been working well,” said O’Shea.

“The yard would appear to have two big chances in the race with my fellow proven at Sharjah, which is always crucial there. “Snaffy has only had three starts and seems to be improving judged on his recent work at home.”

Shaikh Hamdan’s colours will be carried by Sharjah specialist Zaffaan, the mount of Fernando Jara and trained by Musabbeh Al Mheiri. All three of his career victories have been registered on this, his favourite course, most recently over 2700m in the Sharjah Marathon of March 2015.

His other two wins were over 1700m and he will surely appreciate this return to the venue after three disappointing runs last season, all at Al Ain. “Hopefully running back at Sharjah will suit him and he can run a big race,” said Jara.