Brass Ring and Empoli among top contenders

abu dhabi — A six-race fixture at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club on Sunday concludes with the sole Thoroughbred race on the card, a wide open 2,200m handicap in which the weights are headed by Brass Ring, a 2,400m winner in the capital on his latest start nine weeks ago.

Trained by Ismail Mohammed, the 9-year-old Rail Link gelding was making his seasonal debut on that occasion and clearly appreciated the drop in class, having been campaigned in Group and Dubai World Cup Carnival company since arriving in the UAE in 2015.

He has not been straightforward, with Mohammed having only managed to get him to the track six times since joining him, but the ability clearly remains.

Mohammed said: “He is a nice horse who has endured a few problems along the way, but is talented, in good form and should run well in an open contest.”

When victorious nine weeks ago, Brass Ring was chased home by Doug Watson runner Basateen as well as stable mate Empoli coming in fourth.The latter is set to take his chances again, after being denied racing room at a crucial stage during the 2,400m contest.

A Group 1 winner at four in Cologne, Germany, the 9-year-old Halling gelding recorded his only subsequent success over course and distance in November 2017, but never threatened in two January Meydan outings since. However, he seems to prefer Abu Dhabi’s tighter 2,000m oval to the UAE’s flagship 2400m Meydan turf.

Stable companion G K Chesterton has yet to fire in four starts for the yard, but is dropping in grade and starting to appear well handicapped.

Another veteran with Group 1 form is Farrier, trained by Satish Seemar and runner-up in the 1800m Jebel Hatta on Super Saturday in 2016. Yet to win on turf, the 11-year-old gelded son of Tapit was most recently victorious in the 2017 Listed Jebel Ali Stakes over 1950m on the course he has recorded four of his five victories. Interestingly, Farrier made a winning racecourse debut on Tapeta at Meydan almost exactly seven years ago.