Marathon Series attracts field of 9 runners
al ain — Friday’s feature race at Al Ain Racecourse is The Al Ain Stayers’ Trophy, a handicap over 4100m. The seven race card is wholly sponsored by Shadwell, the breeding empire of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance.
This is the third round of The Al Ain Marathon Series and has attracted a field of nine, including the winners of both the first two rounds, Sheikh Down and Balad Al Reef.
The former, trained by Eric Lemartinel at the Al Asayl Stables of The President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, won the opening round, over 2600m, when Balad Al Reef was third and will again be ridden by Champion Jockey, Tadhg O’Shea.
“Conditions are certainly not a problem,” said O’Shea. “He loves the Al Ain surface and stays really well. He may be eight years old now but he still thinks he is a youngster and is full of himself.”
Balad Al Reef who is trained by Abdallah Al Hammadi gained his revenge in the second round, over 3200m and can also boast a 5100m victory over Sheikh Down in the final round of last year’s series in March. Fernando Jara, aboard for both those victories, is again in the saddle.
“All this horse does is stay,” said Jara. “The further the race the better it seems to suit him so we have to be hopeful of a big run.”
O’Shea rides El Salaam, owned by Sheikh Hamdan and trained by Ali Rashid Al Rayhi, in a 1600m handicap which, arguably, appears the most competitive race on the card.
Winner of the equivalent race last year, he has been second or third in his three outings.