Limited number of fans to be allowed to attend horse racing in Abu Dhabi on Friday

Somoud, seen here winning the Emirates Championship at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club on March 14, 2020, goes again in the Dh5 million Group 1 Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown for PurebredShow more

Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club will allow a limited number of fans for their biggest race meeting of the season so far on Friday.

The capital meet is highlighted by the Dh5 million Group 1 Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown for Purebred Arabians.

The undercard includes the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup for both Arabians and thoroughbreds, and the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Cup.

The Jewel Crown has drawn the maximum field of 16 that includes entries from France, Belgium, Saudi Arabia and Oman.

In the first five editions, the prize has been shared between winners trained in Qatar, Abu Dhabi, a pair from France and, last year, Great Britain.

This year the overseas challenge is headed by a name synonymous with football: Messi. The eight-year-old by Dahess trained in Belgium is the highest rated horse in the field at 123.

Hajres, Jaazmah Athbah and Hayyan, the latter in the silks of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed’s Yas Horse Racing Management, are a trio from France.

Completing the foreign contingent are Saudi Arabia pair Mubasher Al Khalediah and Mutwakel Al Khaledia, and the Omani raiders Rasi and BF Mughader.

Somoud, also in the colours of Yas Horse Racing Management, spearheads the local challenge.

Winner of the Jewel Crown prep on November 8, the Jean de Roualle-trained six-year-old son of Munjiz arrives after a four-win streak, twice over the trip and track.

Richard Mullen retains the ride on Somoud who is drawn in Gate 9. De Roualle is confident his charge can keep up his good form.

“He won the prep nicely, but has improved for that run and the extra time since. There are some top horses from around the world, but we are really hopeful of a big run,” De Roualle said.

Ernst Oertel’s AF Al Bairaq in the silks of Emirati owner-breeder Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda and with the UAE champion jockey Tadhg O’Shea chased Somoud home in the prep race.

That was arguably a career best effort from the homebred six-year-old son of AF Al Buraq.

AF Al Bairaq has won twice on the Abu Dhabi turf, over 1600m, most recently a conditions race in March, and the Emirates Colts Classic, a Prestige class race for four-year-olds, in 2018.

“He has a wide draw which is a negative and I would have preferred a lower stall, but the horse is in good form and we’ll give it a go,” Oertel said.

“His training has been very good; he ran well in the prep, we have been happy with him since, so I hope we go there with a good chance.”

The National Day Cup for the Arabians and thoroughbreds have both drawn the maximum 16 runners and are set to provide exciting fares in a meeting that has more than Dh6.5million up for grabs across the seven races.