Dubai: Molahen El Alhan, trained by dual championship-winning handler Ernst Oertel, looks the horse to beat in the 1600m Bibi De Carrere Handicap, the featured Purebred Arabian race at Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
The choice of champion jockey Tadgh O’Shea Molahen El Alhan faces six rivals including Ragdan, to be ridden by Richard Mullen for Jaber Bittar.
Eleven runners line-up in the Gee Whiz Handicap, the only thoroughbred event on the card.
The Doug Watson-trained Udabaa will attempt to win the race for a second year running although he has not been successful since in two starts this season.
When landing this race last year, Udabaa was recording a second consecutive Abu Dhabi victory having won a 2200m handicap on his previous outing.
Watson also saddles the same owner’s Mujrayaat, fifth when his stable companion won that 2200m contest. The mount of stable jockey, Pat Dobbs, he too is having his third start of the campaign.
Dr Faustus, a third runner for the American handler and seventh in last year’s renewal, was second in the same race in 2012 and is another with two previous starts this season.
“The horses have been running really well all season,” said Watson. “Abu Dhabi really suits Udabaa and he is back on the same mark as when he won this race last year. Things did not really go to plan for him last time and we hope he can bounce back. He has a much better draw this time and is probably our best chance.
“Hopefully, Dr Faustus and Mujrayaat also have live chances in a competitive race.”
The 2200m contest won by Udabaa last year was landed this term by Ukrainian when the reopposing Antinori (2nd), Dr Faustus (3rd), Burdlaz (4th), Mujrayaat (5th). Malekov (6th) and Udabaa (11th) were all in arrears.
Trained by Ali Rashid Al Raihe and again the mount of stable jockey, Royston Ffrench, clearly relished the return to turf on that occasion after three dirt outings previously this season.
Stable companion, Yaseer to be ridden by stable apprentice, Saeed Al Mazrouei, was second in the 2012 Group 3 Abu Dhabi Championship when trained by Erwan Charpy. He did not seem to handle the dirt at Meydan Racecourse last week on his first outing in over a year.
In 2011, subsequent dual Jebel Ali Stakes winner, Treble Jig, made a winning local debut in the equivalent race for Musabah Al Muhairi and the trainer relies on Tanfeeth this year.
Runner-up in this contest 12 months ago, he too is owned by Sheikh Hamdan but has been overlooked by O’Neill, leaving stable jockey, Silvestre De Sousa, to take the ride.
Yarroom, to be ridden by Oisin Murphy for his main local employer Dhruba Selvaratnam, looks likely to appreciate the return to turf, while local debutant, Vaasa, cannot be ignored in a wide open race.
Wayne Smith rides for trainer Ahmad bin Harmash who saddled his first winner of the campaign on Friday — ridden by Smith.
