Hammadi saddles four at Al Ain Derby

The traditional seven races at Al Ain on Friday, undoubtedly highlighted by the Al Ain Derby, a 1800m Prestige feature for 4-year-olds foaled in the UAE for which 13 have been declared, includes a quartet to be saddled by Abdallah Al Hammadi for Al Ajban Stables.

Of the four, three are actually maidens with the exception being Majdi, the mount of Pat Cosgrave and a 2000m Sharjah maiden winner on the middle of his five racecourse appearances. He has never really threatened in his other four starts, all at Al Ain, including unseating the unfortunate Sam Hitchcott as the stalls opened on the second of them.

Hitchcott will be hoping for better luck aboard stable companion Jamila, yet to make the frame after three starts with the trainer also saddling Jannat, the mount of Royston Ffrench and Djingo Al Reef under Bernardo Pinheiro.

Hammadi, having his best ever season with 17 winners already, six at Al Ain, said: “The horses have been running well all season and hopefully can continue to do so. It looks a wide open race on Friday and we are happy to have four runners who we think can go well with Majdi probably having the best chance.”

With eight Al Ain victories this season, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami leads the way and will be hoping to add to that tally with Sawt Assalam, already a dual Al Ain winner and actually unbeaten on dirt, his other two starts having been on the Abu Dhabi turf. Szczepan Mazur, aboard for both his 1400m debut success and 1600m victory five weeks ago, is again in the saddle and said: “Like so many from the yard he seems to thrive at Al Ain and this looked an obvious race for him after his gutsy 1600m win last time when he stayed on strongly, suggesting the extra 200m will suit. Hopefully he is the one to beat.”

Six weeks ago, Dane O’Neill and ES Rahmani won a 1600m course maiden for Ibrahim Aseel, on his third career start, seemingly appreciating the step up in trip when far too good for 14 rivals.

Third on that occasion for Majed Al Jahoori and Wathba Racing, Fahd Al Wathba was then second in another maiden over the same 1600m course and distance, partnered by Fernando Jara, again in the saddle, on both occasions.

With only three previous winners joined by ten maidens, including a pair for Ernst Oertel and three from Al Asayl for Eric Lemartinel, it certainly would not be a surprise if one of the latter dectet was to open their account in a fascinating Al Ain Derby.

The only Thoroughbred race card is a true stamina test with ten declared for a 3200m handicap, including three previous Al Ain winners but the whole field trying a new trip, also a new addition to the Thoroughbred options at Al Ain.

With Antonio Fresu riding for Ali Rashid Al Rayhi, Secret Trade will attempt to concede weight to his nine rivals on a track he is a dual winner at both 2000m and 2600m, thrice ridden to Al Ain victory by the Italian, the only times they have combined so, thus, unbeaten as a pairing.