Monday, December 29 2008
Simpson saddles 1-2-3 in feature
Englishman Rod Simpson dominated the Abu Dhabi Three-Year-Old Championship, the feature race on Sunday evening at a meeting sponsored by Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club.
He saddled a remarkable 1-2-3 in the Listed 1600m feature with Sophie Doyle on Elmalak Elwaheed denying Daragh O’Donohoe on Men Abu Dhabi in the dying strides, with Robbie Burke’s mount, debutant Jazeerat Alsadyaat running on to take third.
Saturday, December 27 2008
Simpson looks man to follow
Sunday’s sixth meeting of the season at Abu Dhabi, kindly sponsored by Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, features both the Abu Dhabi Three-Year-Old Championship and Abu Dhabi Colts’ Classic.
Both features have attracted maximum fields of 16 on a six race card on which five of the six races will boast the maximum runners allowed.
Sunday, December 21 2008
Adams seals Listed treble for Charpy
It has been a memorable week for trainer Erwan Charpy who saddled his third Listed winner in eight days when Grantley Adams won HH The President’s Cup at Abu Dhabi on Sunday evening.
The 1400m contest, kindly sponsored by Hyrda Properties, produced a thrilling finish with Tadhg O’Shea forcing the head of Grantley Adams in front right on the line, to deny Ali Rashid Al Raihe’s Montpellier – as stable companion Emirates Gold had done in last week’s National Day Cup.
Saturday, December 20 2008
Jock to reign again?
Sunday is the Listed Thoroughbred version of HH The President’s Cup, kindly sponsored by Hyrda Properties, and 12 have been declared for the 1400m feature on the Abu Dhabi turf.
The weights are headed by the 2006 winner King Jock who was third in last week’s National Day Cup, a race he also won in 2006, over a furlong further.
Friday, December 19 2008
Rampallion lands second Stakes for Charpy
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktom’s Shadwell were the generous sponsors of the Listed Jebel Ali Stakes, the 1950m feature at Jebel Ali’s third meeting of the season on Friday, and the owner came close to recouping the main prize when his Rohaani was a close second.
However, it was the Erwan Charpy-trained Rampallion who landed the spoils in a thrilling finish with jockey David Badel punching the air in delight as he crossed the line.
Thursday, December 18 2008
Shadwell supports Jebel Ali’s first feature
Friday’s third meeting of the current season, kindly sponsored by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Shadwell, features the first of three Listed races on the course this season.
With AED500,000 on offer, the 1950m Jebel Ali Stakes feature has attracted a quality field of 12, including last year’s winner Anani, the runner-up Remaadd and the 2006 winner Singing Poet.
Monday, December 15 2008
Treble for Simpson
Sunday evening was the National Day Cup meeting at Abu Dhabi, kindly sponsored by Sorouh Properties, with both feature races (one for Thoroughbreds and one for Purebred Arabians), over 1600m.
The night was dominated by English trainer Rod Simpson who saddled a memorable treble, highlighted by the victory of Fryvolous in the Purebred Arabian version of the National Day Cup.
Saturday, December 13 2008
Two National Day Cup feature races at Abu Dhabi
Racing returns to Abu Dhabi on Sunday for the prestigious National Day Cup meeting featuring the first major races of the new UAE season.
The Purebred Arabian National Day Cup is a Group 1 contest, with the Thoroughbred counterpart afforded Listed status. Both are over 1600m and kindly sponsored by Sorouh Real Estate.
Friday, December 05 2008
Mandobi the star on an afternoon of doubles
Jebel Ali’s bumper seven race card on Friday afternoon was highlighted by a quality 1600m conditions race in which Mandobi, trained on the track by Dhruba Selvaratnam, posted an impressive victory.
Sporting the famous yellow silks of Selvaratnam’s main patron, Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the seven-year-old was produced with a perfectly-timed challenge by William Buick to land the spoils.
Buick explained: “He is a talented horse with a lot of ability; he actually won at Royal Ascot a few years ago and hopefully can be a serious Carnival horse this season.”
Thursday, December 04 2008
Bouresly and Selvaratnam to double-up at Jebel Ali
Friday afternoon is the second meeting of the current season at Jebel Ali and Dhruba Selvaratnam, who trains on the track, looks to have high hopes of adding to his treble on the course a fortnight ago.
Two of his winners on that occasion, Chun Tosaigh and Mannjal, return to action and are joined by a strong supporting team of stable companions.
However, the star attraction is Rashed Bouresly’s Star Crowned who also won at the course’s first meeting two weeks ago.
Monday, November 24 2008
Abu Alemarat the star at Abu Dhabi
Last season’s Abu Dhabi Triple Crown winner Abu Alemarat made a winning return to action on Sunday evening when landing the featured 2200m conditions race at the Capital’s third meeting of the season.
Now trained by Englishman Rod Simpson, the four-year-old, who carries the colours of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, was sent to the front at the two furlong pole by Daragh O’Donohoe and never looked likely to be caught.
Saturday, November 22 2008
Triple Crown winner returns to action
Sunday’s third meeting of the Abu Dhabi season, a six race all Purebred Arabian card, features a fascinating 2200m conditions race kindly sponsored by Hyrda Properties and for which nine have been declared.
Last year’s Abu Dhabi Triple Crown winner Abu Alemarat makes his eagerly anticipated return in the race having won his last four starts.
