Although the field seems to comprise of the choicest horses, the crème does rise to the top, in all circumstances.
Oertel-Al Naboodah duo has two horses - AF Al Sajanjle and AF Maher - in the Gr.1 Dubai Kahayla Classic.
“We nurture these horses nicely and slowly because we believe the local breeds take a little bit longer to reach their peak,” Oertel said. “Every year they have improved and now they (AF Al Sajanjle and AF Maher) are at the top level and we hope to have a good race.
“I suppose the Saudi horse (Tallaab Al Khalediah - last year’s winner) is the one to beat but take him out and it’s quite an open race. It’s a good race and let the best horse win.”
The trainer hopes to run some of the Al Naboodah horses in Europe this summer and to include thoroughbreds in his stables at Al Awir in Dubai.
Shaikh Mutlaq Bin Mashref, trainer of the Al Khalediah Stables was also supposed to have a duo of horses but in the end only the defending champion races for his stable.
“The Kahayla Classic is the race every Purebred Arabian owner, trainer and jockey want to win. Hopefully, we will come back strong and win it for Al Khalediah Stables, and prove that horses bred in Saudi Arabia are among the best Arab racehorses in the world,” he said.
Trained by Ali Rashid Al Rayhi for His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, defending champion Al Zahir landed his second consecutive Group One HH The President Cup in a comprehensive fashion. Al Zahir has recently been introduced with blinkers, which seems to have improved his performance.
A crowd favourite, Ziyadd, the well-bred six-year-old son of Bibi De Carrere who was runner-up in the Maktoum Challenge Round-3, is known to have a liking for ‘Meydan dirt’.
The biggest threat to the favourites looks to be Darius Du Paon, trained by Eric Lemartinel for His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
“Darius Du Paon was probably a bit unlucky in HH The President Cup and we expect a big run from him,” Lemartinel said.
Some win some lose, it will be interesting to see who wins this tussle of the Arabians!
Winner 2018: Tallaab Al Khalediah
Click here to Runner list 2019
Credit: Pallavi Shevade pallavi.shevade@secretariatsworld.com