RACING in the capital Abu Dhabi, on turf, last Friday had a pair of group races for purebred Arabians as the main attraction, while the only race for thoroughbreds was an important listed context.

The most valuable race to be staged in the capital all season, the Group 1 Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown, went to Belgium courtesy of Messi. The winner was given a very polished and confident ride by Pat Dobbs in a field of 16 runners.

Remarkably, the eight-year-old winner is the only horse in training with Timo Keersmaekers and is homebred and owned by his family. This was Messi’s seventh career win, his fifth on turf, but his first at Group 1 level.

The main support race, again for purebred Arabians, was the mile Group 3 Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup. It was won impressively by AF Alwajel, confidently ridden by Irishman Tadhg O’Shea in the colours of his main employer, Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda, and for the owner’s principal trainer, Ernst Oertel. Once O’Shea pressed go on the winner they never looked in danger.

Also over a mile, the thoroughbred equivalent of the National Day Cup carries listed status. It produced an absolute thriller, with the lead changing hands on a number of occasions, before Ryan Curatolo delivered Boerhan with a perfectly timed challenge. The Stonethorn Stud Farms-bred winner was virtually last entering the short home straight!

A four-year-old Sea The Stars gelding, the winner had doubled his career tally when landing the course and distance preparatory race almost three weeks ago on his first UAE outing. That was also his first run since joining Nicholas Bachalard who trains at the Jebel Ali Stables of the horse’s owner, Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. It was a seventh success in the race, inaugurated in 1993, to carry the predominantly yellow silks of the owner.

Boerhan is the second stakes winner for his listed-placed dam who is herself a half-sister to last year’s champion filly in Europe, the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes winner Millisle.

Curatolo, who appeared confident he had just prevailed crossing the line despite the close finish, said: “We had the worst draw, widest of all in 16, so I had to be patient and ride for a bit of luck. When I asked him in the straight he really quickened nicely and that was a very good effort.

“I am delighted for the owner, the trainer and all the team at home who work so hard every day. Remember, this horse had been off the track for more than 460 days before winning the prep, so it is a great training performance.”

Al Ain – December 5th

THE only race for thoroughbreds on the Al Ain card was a mile handicap. While a maximum field of 15 went to post, 14 of them might just as well have stayed at home. Sandro Paiva was clear on Faith And Fortune at halfway and the pair remained a long way clear of their toiling rivals, winning by a dozen lengths.

This was a major improvement in form for the five-year-old Argentine-bred son of Cityscape. From nine starts locally, he had mustered just a third-place finish on his previous start over six furlongs at Jebel Ali eight days previously. Having won twice on dirt in his native Argentina, Faith And Fortune arrived in the UAE for the 2019 Dubai World Cup Carnival and was trained for his first couple of starts by Mike de Kock.

He then switched to Satish Seemar, running twice for him also, and this his was his sixth start for trainer Ali Rashid Al Rayhi. He carried the colours of Humaid Rashed Ali Alrayhi Alaleeli. Winning rider Paiva said: “The plan was to be positive as he had run well under similar tactics in both starts this season and has really enjoyed himself bowling along out in front.”