Spotlight on Sha'Red in Abu Dhabi
Published: Sun 7 Feb 2016, 7:06 PM
A remarkable sequence for one of the UAE's leading owners may continue when racing resumes at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club on Sunday.
A six race card is highlighted by the Group 3 Al Ruwais (1000m) for Purebred Arabians with owner Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, seeking a sixth consecutive victory.
Two of this year's eight runners will sport his predominantly yellow and green silks, including Sha'Red, outright winner last season, having dead-heated with the same owner's Rakha in 2014. Formerly trained by Yoosef Al Blooshi, for whom he won this race, and Majed Al Jahouri, who saddled him to win the 2015 Group 1 Liwa Oasis (1400m), the six-year-old is now in the capable hands of freshman trainer Nacer Samiri whose big race haul in his first season with an UAE licence includes Rounds One and Two of the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge.
The latter was achieved at Meydan on Thursday, with Haajeb, ridden by Wayne Smith and the former champion jockey will link with the stable again to handle Sha'Red who, despite a penalty forcing him to concede weight to his seven rivals, looks the one to beat over the sprint trip."He has been running well enough over further," said Smith.
"He is pretty versatile regarding trip but the fact he is proven over the 1000 metres is a big bonus in a race few others are. He won the Liwa Oasis as well last season and has a Group One penalty but we have to be very hopeful with the trainer's horses continuing in good form." Stable companion Shateh, to be ridden by reigning Qatar champion jockey Harry Bentley, may loom as a threat. He has been off the track since December 2014 but displayed plenty of dash in his three local starts after arriving from France.
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