Burning Ash could be the one to beat

sharjah — Racing at Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club on Saturday afternoon is highlighted by a 2,000m handicap in which UAE Champion Jockey, Tadhg O’Shea, looks the one to beat aboard RB Burning Ash.

Trained by Eric Lemartinel, whose string are in glorious form, RB Burning Ash, owned by The President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has a solitary win to his name from 12 starts yet has consistency on his side.

This appears his easiest task for a while and, although yet to win on dirt, he was second at Al Ain on a similar surface almost exactly a year ago.

This is the furthest trip he has faced to date but he was staying on over 1,600m last time at Abu Dhabi and is worth a try over the extra distance.

He has yet to race at Sharjah, where his jockey excels and it could be the key to unlocking his winning drought dating back to March 2015.

“He has been pleasing us at home and handles dirt well,” said O’Shea. “We think he will stay the 2,000m, especially at Sharjah and are hopeful but the draw could have been kinder to us.” Sharjah specialist, MH Areeb, trained by Elise Jeanne, is seeking a sixth victory at the track and a seventh career success.

He has not actually won over this trip but has twice finished second over 2,000m and has already won this season, over 1,700m at Sharjah.

Adrie de Vries rides for Jeanne: “He loves it at Sharjah and rarely disappoints. It looks a strong race but he is in great shape and a real favourite in the yard,” said the jockey.

The only Thoroughbred contest is another 2,000m handicap which appears to revolve around Watheeq who, homebred by Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance, has registered all three of his UAE victories over this trip at Sharjah.

That includes winning in the middle of November both last year and in 2013 so, with a Meydan pipe-opener under his belt nine days ago, he should be spot on for this.

The mount of the owner’s retained jockey, Dane O’Neill, he is trained by Ali Rashid Al Rayhi, master of Grandstand Stables, as is Skygazer, to be ridden by the trainer’s stable jockey, O’Shea.