Racing dates pushed back at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club

The debut of racing at the Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club yesterday was pushed back to February 14 by the Emirates Racing Authority (ERA) to allow more preparation time at the track.

The debut of horse racing at the Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club on Tuesday was pushed back to February 14 by the Emirates Racing Authority (ERA) to allow more preparation time at the track.

The UAE’s fifth racecourse was to come online this year, with meets on November 30 and December 20. The former date was shifted to February and the latter to March 20.

The ERA’s move preserves Al Ain’s five fixtures for the 2013/14 season.

In addition to the race track, the Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club boasts an 18-hole golf course and a nine-hole floodlit academy course. It also has three rugby pitches.

In England, Sheikh Rashid bin Damlook’s Rizeena bids for her second Group 1 success of the season but will contest the Fillies’ Mile, sponsored by Shadwell, at Newmarket on Friday, rather than the shorter Cheveley Park Stakes a day later.

Trained by the veteran handler Clive Brittain, Rizeena held off the late thrust of Qatar Racing’s Kiyoshi in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh three weeks ago.

The weather has been fair in Britain this week and the trainer believes that on better ground his charge can last home the extra two furlongs.

“She will stay, that is not going to be a problem,” Brittain said. “She’s in great form at the moment and has done all the work I want her to do for the race.

“It was a matter of which race we went for and I felt she’d have a big chance in either. She is an exceptional filly and is thriving on what she’s doing.”