Boxing Day’s HH The President’s Cup for Thoroughbreds promises to be a true Christmas cracker with a maximum field of 14 declared for the seven furlong Listed contest.
The race card includes the Satish Seemar-trained Escape Route who won the course and distance prep under Richard Mullen.
Mullen is one of several jockeys who have chosen to spend Christmas away and Wayne Smith, who won the race last year on Ibn Battuta, takes the ride.
He is looking forward to it, and said: “It is a great spare ride and he has to have a big chance. I was second in the prep on Hopes And Fears and Escape Route was very impressive. This is a better race but we have a good draw so I am very hopeful.”
Jaasoos, winner of the Listed National Day Cup (1m) under Kieren Fallon is another with a jockey change with William Buick, stable jockey to trainer Dhruba Selvaratnam, reclaiming the mount.
Robbie Osborne’s King Jock is the only horse to have won both races in the same year/season (though Diffident won both in the 97/98 season when National Day Cup was in December and this race in January) but Selvaratnam sounds hopeful, and said: “He ran very well in the race last season when third and the drop to seven furlong is not a problem.
“He seems in the same kind of form at home as before the National Day Cup but this looks a stronger race. We are drawn wide again which is not ideal but he overcame that last time and we should run well.”
Golden Arrow won the Listed Jebel Ali Mile in 2009 for Erwan Charpy and was one of several runners who enjoyed no luck behind Jaasoos in the National Day Cup. Drawn in the centre, jockey Willie Supple will at least have options.
Ali Rashid Al Raihe trains Montpellier who was fourth in this last year having been second in 2009. He will be ridden by Gerald Avranche who rode a treble at Abu Dhabi last week, while Prince Shaun and Letteratura are others to consider.
With Iguaza Falls and Le Drakkar both likely to race prominently from wide draws, a fast gallop looks assured and luck in running could well pay a big part around the tight Abu Dhabi track.
The main Purebred Arabian races are both restricted to three-year olds and over a mile.
The Listed Abu Dhabi Championship sees the return of the Philippe Barbe-trained Frynchman, an impressive winner on his sole start from subsequent victor Aqmaar.
He beat Masharref, third in Frynchman’s maiden, on that occasion and the winner should come from that trio with filly Athena the other possible.
The field for the Abu Dhabi Colts’ Classic includes three previous winners in Naughty, Burkan Al Asayl and BH Fatan.
The last named beat Sarim who re-opposes on better terms but Burkan Al Asayl, like Frynchman to be ridden by Kieren Fallon for Barbe, looks the most likely winner.
By Peter Ward
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