Abu Dhabi: Eric Le Martinel has been appointed as the new trainer for President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s stables Al Asayl in the capital.
The South African replaces Ernest Oertel, who was suspended for four months last season for using prohibited substances on race horses. The general manager of the stables, Salem Al Ketbi, had taken charge for the remainder of the season in Oertel’s absence.
Oertel had been the champion trainer two years in a row — the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 seasons — when he was in charge of the Al Asayl stables.
Eric Le Martinel will now have that opportunity to win the UAE trainers title with a stable that can boast of some of the best purebred Arabians in the country. Over 140 races are in prospect for purebred Arabians in the new season and the majority of them will be held in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Sharjah.
Veteran trainer Tony Manuel returns to take charge of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian stables of Le Martinel, where the latter served for over seven years.
Frenchman Jen de Rouaille has been roped in by Al Ain stables, owned by Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, as the new trainer. Mohammad Ramadan will be the other trainer to look forward to from Al Ain.
Moroccan Nasser Samiri will take charge of Shaikh Mansour’s Al Wadba stables in Abu Dhabi from Majid Al Jahouri, who is facing a one-year suspension for a similar offence as Oertel. The absence of the Emirati trainer is a huge blow as he had saddled a record seven Group one winners in the 2013-14 season.
Capital’s Jordanian trainer Jameel Salman will also be looking to prove his worth along with Jaber Vittar, who continues as Al Reef Stables’ trainer for another season.
The Abu Dhabi season opener on November 8 will feature the world’s richest race for purebred Arabians — with €1.2 million on offer — The Shaikh Zayed Jewel Crown, a Group 1 Race run over 1 mile. The two main supporting races on the night will be the Shaikha Fatima Bin Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) and Shaikha Fatima Bin Mubarak Apprentice World Championship. Riders lining up for these two races will be those who won the qualifying rounds of the Shaikha Fatima Bin Mubarak World Championship for Ladies series.
Abu Dhabi Equestrian Clubs racing manager Pat Buckley revealed that the track is in mint condition. “A lot of work has gone in to prepare the turf and we expect plenty of good races beginning with the world’s richest race on the opening night of November 8,” said the former Grand National winner in the UK.
