Saturday’s Al Ain meeting, the final racing fixture of 2014 in the UAE, is highlighted by a 2000m conditions race as trainer Salem Al Ketbi saddles two with Tadhg O’Shea electing to partner Nashmee.
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A winner on the course over 1600m (on the previous synthetic surface), Nashmee was then fourth over the same trip on the Abu Dhabi turf. Having only his third career start, the jockey is open to plenty of improvement.
O’Shea said: “He won his only start at the backend of last season and will have improved a lot for his one run so far this season. He trains well on dirt so that should not be an issue.”
Royston Ffrench rides stable companion Burj Khalifa.
Haajeb, one of two in the race owned by Sheikh Mansour, looks a huge threat for trainer Yousef Al Bloushi and apprentice Saeed Al Mazrouei. The horse takes a marker drop in class having contested the Group 2 Mazrat Al Ruwayah. The owner’s second runner, Merzak, is trained by Majed Al Jahouri with Silvestre De Sousa riding.
The only Thoroughbred race on the card, a 1000m maiden, is the final UAE race of 2014 and eight have been declared. De Sousa rides Conform With Fact for his main employer, Musabah Al Muhairi.
Intense Effort, whom Al Mazrouei rides for Mohammad Al Subouse, was second at Al Ain on his penultimate start, while Skygazer, a rare 2yo runner in the UAE, makes his local debut for Ali Rashid Al Raihe.