Saturday, January 10, 2009

Arabian triple crown opens this Sunday at Abu Dhabi

Racing returns to Abu Dhabi this Sunday with a seven race card highlighted by the opening round of the Arabian Triple Crown, a 1600m contest carrying Listed status and kindly sponsored by Hydra Properties.

Purebred Arabian stars such as Parador and Nez D’Or have won this in the past, while last year’s winner Abu Alemarat went on to become the first to win all three legs.


He was trained at Al Asayl by Jeff Frazier and it is his replacement, Rod Simpson, who saddles the likely Pick Six favourite in the shape of the unbeaten Elmalak Elwaheed who led home a 1-2-3 for the trainer a fortnight ago in the Abu Dhabi Three-Year-Old Championship, over course and distance.

The filly is penalised accordingly but should still be hard to beat under Sophie Doyle who said: “She is a lovely filly and gave me my biggest winner last time. Obviously this will be harder under a penalty but we know conditions suit – though she will stay further.”

Stable companion Jazeerat Alsadyaat would be a big danger if getting a run (he is first reserve) as he was running on strongly when third in the same race – having missed the break on his racecourse debut.

Gill Duffield’s Royal Class was expected to win that event after his Group 2 win in the UK but was a major disappointment and again has to give weight to all his rivals.

The following race is a rare Thoroughbred handicap and the 2400m contest has attracted eight declarations, including Tabadul who was a winner at the Dubai International Racing Carnival in 2007.

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