Gulf 22/23 - Jewel Crown Preview

Lady Princess (FR) and Jim Crowley win the 2021 Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown (Group 1PA) ©DHRIC/AK

Gulf 22-23 Season Jewel Crown Preview

The grand finale of the Sheikh Mansoor Festival each year is of course the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown, a Group 1PA contest, held over 2200m and worth AED 5 million, with AED 3 million to the winner.

This year, the 16 runners include 2021 winner Lady Princess, who, since her victory last December has added a further four Group 1PA wins to her scorecard the HH The Amir Sword in Doha, the Sheikh Mansoor Festival Criterium des Pouliches at La Teste, a second Qatar International Stakes at Goodwood and a first win in the Qatar Arabian World Cup. Currently rated 127, success on December 4, will bring her lifetime career total of top-level success to 10, a truly outstanding record for a mare, who is still only six years old.

However, in what looks to be an outstanding field, she will not have things all her own way. Just below her on ratings is the American bred, First Classs on 125. He has been more of a slow burn and despite success in his native America, he took his time to acclimatise to Qatar, where he is leased by Nayef bin Saad bin Sharida Al Kaabi. Since his win last December of the Qatar International Derby (Gr2PA) over 2000m on Al Rayyan’s Turf in Doha, he proved he can handle the surface and a step in trip with an historic success in the inaugural Al Mneefah Cup, as part of the Saudi Cup meeting over 2100m.

First Classs (US) and Ronan Thomas win the 2022 Dubai Kahayla Classic

© Debbie Burt

Dropping back to 2000m he and regular pilot Ronan Thomas producing a thrilling duel to the line with Kerless Del Roc in Dubai’s Kahayla Classic in March. His European campaign with new trainer Jean de Mieulle, hasn’t quite gone to plan, finishing fifth behind Lady Princess at both Goodwood and ParisLongchamp, but connections will be hoping that the quicker Turf in Abu Dhabi will play to his strengths.

Djafar (FR) and Christophe Soumillon go to post for the 2022 Qatar Arabian World Cup in which they were third

© Debbie Burt

Like First Classs, Djafar is a son of the outstanding sire, Dahess and is owned by Abdullah Fahad Al Attiyah. Rated 122 for his third place behind Lady Princess in Paris, he won the Qatar Arabian Guineas last November, but like First Classs, seemed less at home on the easier European turf. He has some quality placings though and has proven stamina over 2350m, having won his maiden at

Hayyan (FR) and Ioritz Mendizabal winning the 2019 UAE President Cup UK Arabian Derby at Doncaster

© Debbie Burt

The domestic challenge is headed by two horses on 121, Hayyan trained by Majed Al Jahoori and Soko handled by Helal Alalawi. By Munjiz, Hayyan would be a popular winner, representing the sponsors’ YAS Racing. Hayyan, who spent his first four seasons exclusively in the care of Freddie Sanchez, will be making his debut for Al Jahoori and has not been seen since finishing third to Lady Princess in this race last year. His four Group 1PA wins cover both the French and UK Arabian Derby ’s, the Doha Cup in Deauville and the French Arabian Breeder’s Classic – Sheikh Zayed Cup at Toulouse, and whilst clearly a horse with great ability, a lack of a recent run will be a concern.

Soko (FR) and Cristian Demuro go to post for the 2022 Qatar Arabian World Cup in which they were ninth

© Debbie Burt

Soko finished fourth in this last year, though was subsequently second over course and distance in the HH The Presidents Cup, before finishing runnerup to First Classs in the Al Mneefah. He is a dual winner of the Doha Cup, first for his trainer in 2021, and second in the colours of his new owners, the Royal Cavalry of Oman this year, taking some notable scalps with Abbes and Ebraz placed behind him. need to put that behind her. A standing dish at Abu Dhabi is another YAS representative, the eight-year-old, Somoud (OR 118). All his wins, bar one, have come at the track including two Emirates Championships and two HH The President Cup’s, all Group 1PA races over 2200m. Though one of the oldest in the race, he has had the benefit of a recent run when third in a conditions event at Al Ain in November.

Next on 119 is another YAS homebred, this time a mare, Teema. By Bibi De Carrere, she is a five-year-old half-sister to Hayyan and is a dual Group 1PA winner over 2000m at ParisLongchamp. Like Lady Princess, she’s a winner of the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments, but this year she also won the Prix Dragon against some top colts, including First Classs who was second, as well as Obaiya Arabian Classic winner, Hadi de Carrere, and last year’s World Cup winner Hoggar De L’Ardus. She was a disappointing eighth in this year’s World Cup however and will Next in line on 117 are the seven-year-old Ashton Tourettes and one of two fouryear-olds in the race, Izadi Star. Ashton Tourettes stepped up to Group company this year when winning the Al Ruwais (Gr 3PA) over 1200m in January, and was then a neck behind Somoud in the HH The President Cup. Well beaten in the Kahayla, won by First Classs, he put up a good show on reappearance in the Jewel Crown prep, finishing less than a length off the winner, Hameem, with AF Al Bairaq, Jawal Al Reef, Mujeeb and Dergham Athbah all behind.

Izadi Star caught the eye last season with two Group3PA wins at Abu Dhabi, over this trip and further for Helal Alalawi. Beaten a head by Samlla in the French Arabian Derby, whilst under the care of Elizabeth Bernard in France, he was a long way off Lady Princess in the World Cup, on ground that likely didn’t suit. Closer to the principles in the French Arabian Breeders Classic-Sheihk Zayed Cup in October, he still has over five lengths to find with the third Monda, who reopposes. Facing quicker ground, on a track that suits, will likely bring out a better performance from the four-year-old.

Hameem (US) and Dane O'Neill win the prep, ahead of Ashton Tourettes (FR), AF Al Bairaq (AE) and Jawal Al Reef (AE)

©ERA

Running off 116 are Hameem and Jawal Al Reef. Hameem has looked like progressive colt over the last two seasons, winning the one mile Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup (Gr3PA) at this meeting last year, as well as the 1400m Liwa Oasis. Al Ajban Stables five-year-old son of Valiant Boy SBFAR has no stamina concerns either, as he made a winning return over course and distance in the prep race, and reopposes many of those who he beat that day.

Fourth in the prep was Jawal Al Reef, who has mostly been campaigned in handicap company. However he posted a career best when he was second by a short head over course and distance to Harrab in the Group 1 PA Emirates Championship in March. At nine years of age, he is the oldest runner in the race, and despite some good recent form, will need to improve to feature in this quality field.

Dergham Athbah (GB) and Fernando Jara after finishing third in the Al Mneefah

© Debbie Burt

Running of 115 is the ex-UK trained Dergham Athbah. Since joining Mohamed Daggash in the UAE, the five-year-old son of AF Albahar has won two races over this course and distance, including the UAE Arabian Derby in March 2021. Last season he progressed to Group company, placing second in Round 2 of the Al Maktoum Challenge on Dirt, then third to First Classs in the Al Mneefah back on turf. Finished best of the horses drawn wide in the Kahayla, staying on for sixth, and kept on well on his reappearance in the prep, when beaten just over three lengths.

AF Al Buraiq and Mujeeb come into the race off 111, and were both behind Hameem in the prep, finishing third and fifth respectively. AF Al Buraiq is a twotime course winner over a mile, but to date has only been placed at Group 3PA level at this track. The eight-year-old son of five-time leading UAE sire AF Al Buraq will have the assistance of the ten times UAE champion jockey Tadgh O’Shea, who is yet to win this race.

Completing the field off 110 is Ottoman and the other four-year-old Monda. Like Hameem, Ottoman is a grey son of Valiant Boy and is a three-time course winner, including at Group level, having won Round 2 of the Arabian Triple Crown (Dergham Athbah second) and Round 3 (beating Mujeeb). He finished eighth in this race last year, and was only seen once more, when beaten a distance by Somoud in the HH The President Cup and has obviously had a few issues to overcome. He is another who may lack the required fitness for this after an interrupted season.

Though now owned by the young Qatari’s of Al Wasmiyah Racing, Monda will have plenty of local support as the four-yearold daughter of No Risk Al Maury was bred by Lara Sawaya. A clear winner of a conditions race at Mont-de-Marsan beating 14 other rivals, she was then a very close third in the 2021 Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches (Gr1PA). Placed in Doha last winter, she made the frame in all three of her French starts this year, most recently in the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments behind Sahab, and then the French Arabian Breeders Challenge Classic – Sheikh Zayed Cup beating Izadi Star, both were Group 1PA races.

The race promises to be another strong renewal and the draw for the gate positions will take place on Wednesday 29 November at the Dusit Thani, Abu Dhabi.