A seven-race card at Al Ain kicks off the weekend’s racing in the UAE. A whole bunch of maidens and handicaps make it a tricky one to solve.
Race 1
Although SS ALAHWAS underperformed slightly last start, he gets the verdict in this field which lacks a standout performer and his consistency certainly jumps off the page. Only half a length behind the selection, Ajwa is taken as the chief threat with the additional furlong possibly aiding her chances as well. Shaakir and Saajir are the others to follow.
6 SS ALAHWAS
7 AJWA
5 SHAAKIR
Race 2
RASIKH AL WATHBA rarely runs a bad race without winning but it looks like the key with him is to wait and watch as he seems to have a short sprint. Silvestre De Sousa jumping back aboard is vital as he rode him that way last start only to bump into a runaway winner. Similar tactics should see him on top. Waheed has also been a model of consistency as well and is of obvious interest. There’s quite a few with potential to spring a surprise including AF Yorafref who has been crying for this step up in trip but has something to find on ratings.
12 RASIKH AL WATHBA
5 WAHEED
9 AF YORAFREF
Race 3
Lindor De Bozouls will certainly go as one of the more fancied ones here owing to his impressive maiden victory last start at this course, but this is a step up in grade and he may be vulnerable to the likes of RB NASH HOUSE for the red-hot Richard Mullen and Musabbeh Al Mheiri combination. He was just touched off on his debut Al Ain appearance and the front two were miles clear of the remainder. He should build on that and despite the five pounds raise, he seems to be well-weighted. Kayla De Carrere has some good turf form to bring, and she handles this surface so could be a threat to the principals.
2 RB NASH HOUSE
3 KAYLA DE CARRERE
7 LINDOR DE BOZOULS
Race 4
The trial form for the unraced ones here does not seem to jump off the page enough to suggest they can beat AB TAHAN’s proven form, so he gets the clear verdict. Jadal Grine, AR Raad and Dark Zone look best of the unraced lot.
2 AB TAHAN
8 JADAL GRINE
3 AR RAAD
Race 5
She is five pounds lower than her peak rating of 73 last season, so NISREEN AL WATHBA gets the nod in a competitive looking race. She won a 1400m at Al Ain last year but stays further, giving her the right mix of speed and stamina. Samaa Al Gharbia made an encouraging debut at Sharjah and has the apprentice’s allowance to help with AF Muataq, most recently successful at Sharjah, kept for third. Nizaa Al Wathba has already posted two seconds this season and should not be dismissed.
13 NISREEN AL WATHBA
7 SAMAA AL GHARBIA
5 AF MUATAQ
Race 6
HK ZIFRANA is the clear pick judged on his close fifth behind Jamra SB over course and distance two weeks ago. He has been running well in defeat and has plenty in hand on ratings against the rest of the opposition. Al Sakb Mleeh and Al Khabeer both ran well last out and are kept for placings.
13 HK ZIFRANA
5 AL SAKB MLEEH
4 AL KHABEER
Race 7
Last out winner, JAMRA SB could yet have more to offer, and the five-pound raise may not be enough to stop him, not to forget that Hamed Al Busaidi’s 2.5kgs allowance practically offsets it anyway. Much of the field comprises of the same opposition that the selection bested last time except for Inqath who has gone down massively in ratings over the years and presents the biggest threat to the selection. AR Amira showed good speed over a mile behind a winner who runs in a Group 1 race this weekend so she may prove best of the rest.
2 JAMRA SB
1 INQATH
7 AR AMIRA
Best: R4 AB Tahan
Next Best: R6 HK Zifrana