A 1700m feature for Purebred Arabians tops the Sharjah Longines Racecourse’s season opening meeting.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Sharjah Longines Racecourse will host its first meeting of the 2021-22 season on Saturday, with six races scheduled to kick off at 2.pm.

The highlight of the seven-race card is the Dhs100,000 Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan Cup for Purebred Arabians over 1700m (about 8.5 furlongs).

Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club will host six meetings in the new season at the Sharjah Longines Racecourse.

Continuing the tradition, the Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club management has named all the six races after the UAE Royals, who have played a vital role in the development of equestrian sports in the country and on the global stage.

Beginning with Saturday, the feature race of the season opener is named Dr

Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan Cup. The second meeting of the calendar to be held on November 27 is named after late Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The third meeting taking place on December 4 is the GCC Cup. The fourth meeting to be held on January 8, 2022 will be called the Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Cup race.

The fifth meeting scheduled for February 26, 2022 will be the Crown Prince of Sharjah Cup and Sheikh Ahmed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup.

The highlight of the Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club season is the sixth meeting to be held on March 12, 2022, His Highness Ruler of Sharjah Cup race.

The initiative was launched by Sheikh Abdullah Bin Majid Al Qasimi, President of the Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club, a few years ago.

Meanwhile, the prestige handicap has drawn a highly competitive overflow field of 16 with two reserves.

Topping the ratings at 80 is 9-year-old ES Nahawand, a UAE-bred Mohamed Daggash-trained four-time victor owned by Amhed Mohd Saif Murshed Al Marar. Consistent and appreciative of these conditions, he won over course and distance one year ago and has proven to be able to fire off a layoff. Pat Dobbs picks up the mount.

Veteran rider Adrie de Vries takes the reins on Al Wathba Racing’s Musheer Al Wathba, who makes his first start at Sharjah Longines for Jean de Roualle. The son of Tahar de Candelon was a prestige handicap victor in March 2020 at Al Ain, but has raced sparingly since and failed to seriously factor in three runs in 19 months. Just a 5-year-old, the chestnut entirely has every right to return to form.

Saad Bin Suhail Salim Bahwan’s Omani invader Al Mufham SB has already proven an affinity for course and distance when winning in handicap company on April 3 and reunites with regular pilot Al Moatase Al Balushi from a well-drawn post four. A winner of four of his seven starts, the improving 4-year-old has won his last four races on dirt.

The always-capable yard of Ernst Oertel has entered a pair in AF Alajaj (Tadhg O’Shea aboard) and AF Kal Noor (Malin Holmberg)—both banner-bearers of champion owner Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda. Drawing well on lightweights of 53.5kgs and 53kgs, the pair have won five of their 14 collective starts, with the former a 3-for-4, progressive sort who can run on either surface.

Five-time winner Hareer Al Reef and dual victor Sufyan must be respected in this spot for their connections and top the remainder of a field that includes Gandalf de Pompadour, Munfared, AF Ramz, AF Tayesh, Al Ajeeb W’rsan, Ashton Tourettes, Hazeem Al Raed, Mujahid and Only Smoke.

The nightcap handicap and lone Thoroughbred fixture is also over 1700m. Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum’s 11-year-old five-time winner Fraserburgh will look to turn back time under Xavier Ziani, but must tote 59.5kg in the process.

Sultan Mohammed Khalifa Al Yahyaee, General Manager of the Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club, said: “We are happy to see big fields return to Sharjah Longines Racecourse on Saturday.

“Exciting races are on the cards during the season and there is a lot to look forward to. We are very excited at the prospect of top-class racing at Sharjah Longines Racecourse,” he added.