Sniper De Monlau shows form at Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club

ABU DHABI // Helal Al Alawi said Sniper De Monlau has the potential to become the best four-year-old Purebred Arabian in the country after he landed the Dh250,000 Listed Arabian Triple Crown Round 1 on Sunday night.

Under apprentice Hector Crouch, Sniper De Monlau won by half-a-length from the Tadhg O’Shea-ridden Cloe Du Faust despite hanging badly to the left during the closing stages of the 1,600-metre race at the capital.

He ran a similar race under the same jockey on this racecourse debut behind Moulins Monarch in the Listed Abu Dhabi Championship two weeks ago.

Al Alawi had a trio entered in the 14-runner race, including Sniper De Monlau. Stable mates Badira De Monlau and Oraib finished fifth and 13th respectively.

“He deserved to run in this race on the promise he showed in his last start,” the Emirati said. “We had him at the declaration stage but had to leave him out in preference of the other two from the stable as we thought the mile distance was inadequate for him. He was lucky to get a run following the two withdrawals.

“On his latest showing we feel he’s got the potential to be the best four-year-old Arabian in the country. The longer trip in Round 2 of this three-race series obviously is his next target.”

Adnan De Monlau (Frederik Tylicki) and Hamza (Harry Bentley) set a strong early pace. Crouch came with a strong late run on Sniper De Monlau and were joined by Cloe Du Faust and Cheikh Roque (David Probert).

Sniper De Monlau showed plenty of speed to run strongly on the outside rail to flash first past the winning post. A head and neck separated the second, third and fourth – Cloe De Faust, Cheik Roque and Hamza.

The six prizes on offer in Abu Dhabi’s New Year meeting were won by six different jockeys, trainers and owners. AF Tawaq under the UAE champion jockey Richard Mullen won the opener, a maiden over 1,600m, by 18 lengths from Rasekh.

Mullen was quickly out of the wide draw from gate No 13 and moved his horse right across the 13-runner field behind the early leader AS Adaid before taking up the running after 400 metres of the 1,600m race.

Patrick Dobbs rode a contrasting race half an hour later to come from way behind onboard Najem S’Heel to win by a neck from Love To Dance under Fernando Jara in the Handicap for horses rated 60-85 and run over 1,200m.

George Buckell came with a late run to take the solitary race for the thoroughbreds on Ismail Mohammed-trained Somalian.

Fernando Jara steered the UAE champion trainer Musabah Al Muhairi’s AF Al Sally to victory in the Wathba Cup, and the leading jockey O’Shea rounded off with victory on Eric Lemartinel’s Nashmee in the final 2,200m handicap.

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