Oertel banks on AF Maher, AF Soqrat for Ruler Of Sharjah Cup glory

Racing at Sharjah Longines Racecourse on Saturday afternoon, a traditional six-race card, is highlighted by the 1700m The Ruler Of Sharjah Cup, a Prestige contest for horses foaled in the UAE won in 2018 by AF Maher, subsequent winner of the 2019 Group 1 Kahayla Classic on the Dubai World Cup card at Meydan

He was saddled by Ernst Oertel for Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda and the pair have two chances this year with the owner’s retained jockey, Tadhg O’Shea, opting to partner AF Soqrat. Homebred, the 5-year-old entire shed his maiden tag, at the fifth attempt, on his latest start in a 1400m Jebel Ali maiden, staying on strongly up the steep incline.

Gerald Avranche partners’ stablemate AF Nashrah, also bred by Al Nabooda and with a sole victory to her name, the 5-year-old mare having landed a 1400m maiden on the Al Ain dirt three starts ago. That was in October on her seasonal debut.

O’Shea, seeking to a seventh win in ten years in the race, said: “These choices are never easy, but the way AF Soqrat stayed on up the Jebel Ali hill suggested the 1700m at Sharjah will suit him, but on ratings, he has plenty to find.”

And on those official ratings alluded to, Jawaal is undoubtedly the one to beat, Jim Crowley riding for Al Wathba Racing and Majed Al Jahoori.

Unbeaten at Sharjah, after two 1200m victories in Prestige contests in consecutive weeks last December, the homebred 5-year-old entire’s only defeat on dirt was in his latest start. That was in the 1600m Group 2 Mazrat Al Ruwayah when never able to land a blow, finishing eighth.

Crowley said: “I have only ridden the horse once before, winning the Emirates Colts Classic about a year ago on turf at Abu Dhabi. He clearly handles Sharjah well and the trip should suit, so I am looking forward to getting back on him in what looks a good opportunity.”

Eric Lemartinel saddles two with Fabrice Veron electing to partner Dhafra for Sheikh Mohd Bin Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, leaving the spare ride on stable companion, Maqam, for Antonio Fresu, the man aboard AF Maher when he landed this in 2018.

Both Lemartinel runners were behind Jawaal in the 1200m Crown Prince Of Sharjah in the middle of December, Dhafra faring much the better of the pair in second, Maqam beating just one of their 11 rivals.  

A 5-year-old mare, Dhafra actually beat fellow debutant Jawaal when making a winning start to her career, in a 1400m maiden, on the Abu Dhabi turf in November 2019.  

The only Thoroughbred race, the concluding 2000m handicap, appears typically competitive with a capacity field of 16 declared to face the starter.

Skygazer, joined in the field by Ali Rashid Al Rayhi-trained stable companion Mears, is the only course and distance winner in the field.

The mount of Sandro Paiva, the 9-year-old Echo Of Light gelding is actually unbeaten after three starts over this track and trip, most recently 53 weeks ago.

Meanwhile, Sharjah debutant Mears, a 7-year-old Street Cry gelding and the mount of Royston Ffrench, is a 1900m winner at Meydan and a dual Al Ain scorer over 2000m, all on dirt.  

Doug Watson is also well represented, saddling three with Crowley aboard Maqaadeer for his main employer, Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum ((Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance).

Stable jockey Pat Dobbs is aboard Rougher with Sam Hitchcott to partner Watson’s third runner, Cosmo Kramer.

Both Obeyaan and Miniaturist arrive having won their most recent starts, for Mujeeb Rahman at Jebel Ali and Ahmed Al Shemaili at Al Ain respectively, so are clearly in good heart and just two more to consider in a typically wide open Sharjah Thoroughbred contest.