AF Mathmoon will compete in Group 2 Bani Yas held over 1400m
AF Mathmoon – DWC Meydan, Dubai, UAE
30 November 2016, Dubai, UAE ~ Meydan Racecourse hosts its first Purebred Arabian meeting and first Group race of the 2016-17 season on Thursday, 1 December, as ten go to post for the AED180,000 Group 2 Bani Yas.
The meeting, presented by Longines, promises to be a highly entertaining affair with a number of intriguing Thoroughbred contests featuring on the seven-race card.
Purebred Arabian fans are in for a treat with the opening Group 2 Bani Yas, held over 1400m, having attracted the entry of 2016 Dubai Kahayla Classic winner, AF Mathmoon.
Winner of the same race last season when held in February, 2016, AF Mathmoon trained by Oasis Stables handler, Musabbeh Al Mheiri for Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Sheikh Hamdan’s retained jockey, Dane O’Neill is suspended so AF Mathmoon will be reunited with stable jockey, Fernando Jara who won an Abu Dhabi handicap on this same weekend on his only previous ride on the horse. That ride was in the colors of Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda, breeder of AF Mathmoon who then sold him to Sheikh Hamdan.
“He is obviously a very nice horse and I am very much looking forward to getting back on him,” said Jara. “He seems in very good shape and, hopefully, is the one to beat.”
The Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan-owned Shateh, trained by Majed Al Jahouri and the mount of Pat Dobbs, looks the main danger.
In the Thoroughbred ranks UAE Champion Trainer, Doug Watson saddles three of the 12 runners declared for the 2000m Longines Elegance Equestrian. Watson, who trains out of Red Stables, has won each of the last two renewals of this race courtesy of Henry Clay in 2014 and Jeeraan 12 months ago.
Race card:[gview file=”https://horsereporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Race_Card_Meydan-Racecourse_Thursday_01_December_2016.pdf” save=”1″]